I believe the point is that the presence of materials on the moon is that they would be available for use in space missions using the moon as a jumping off point. Basically, the materials would not need to be launched from earth saving the energy otherwise required to get them to the level of lunar orbit.

Things do get compacted if they do not have a retail value, though. I worked at Wal-Mart in high school and brought home a couple lawnmower engines (against policy.) Since Wal_Mart doesn't sell just the engine they had not retail value. I think they were from display models that got scavenged for other parts to the point that they could not be sold.