Fusion is hard. Neutrons are a concern, yes, but none of this matters without ignition, without break-even (choose your definition). Until break-even is achieved, it’s all premature optimization to me.
Compact or not, clever neutron handling or not, integrated tritium-breeding or not, break-even is the minimum bar to cross, and no one has crossed it outside of fission-triggered bombs. That must be the focus. Once that is achieved, there will be plenty of resources to solve the myriad of other problems, but until break-even is achieved (by ANY means other than fission trigger), solving those other problems just doesn’t matter.
Compact or not, clever neutron handling or not, integrated tritium-breeding or not, break-even is the minimum bar to cross, and no one has crossed it outside of fission-triggered bombs. That must be the focus. Once that is achieved, there will be plenty of resources to solve the myriad of other problems, but until break-even is achieved (by ANY means other than fission trigger), solving those other problems just doesn’t matter.