I really wish people were all logical and stuff. But they are not, so i think we are going to get to what you are saying here, by going around the block, to the back of the building, and climb into the 2nd story window… to get there.
We could have gotten there through the front door in the 80s, but never you mind that.
It does not take more than getting free energy out. Beyond that, no "logic" needed. 100% of the cost of everything is energy - the resources sit here freely but it takes energy to put them into useful configuration. Add free energy and the cost of energy will be removed all down the line.
Eventually it will get to the point where collecting the penny for [whatever] is more energy than it's worth. I estimate about a decade from the time the free energy flows.