Yes, but it *launched* four times, and the launch tower verifiably works, and it didn't take a decade to build. That's the subject of this question, isn't it? The $2.7 billion NASA wants to spend on a steel-frame launch tower.

This is very technically correct but also misleading.

In the last test flight, Starship reached a velocity of 7.3km/s. Orbital velocity is 7.8km/s.

Why didn't they make it to 7.8km/s? Because they choose not to. Starship had the fuel, control and capability to burn a few more seconds for another 500m/s.

It also (barely) survived re-entry and achieved a fully controlled, powered, soft splashdown.

Because the mission profile has been intentionally sub orbital to avoid any possibility of uncontrolled reentry. There would be minimal change in the burn for the last 2 flights to place it in orbit.