Daniel,
>>what other reason is there to go to northern New Mexico or southern Colorado? Not a whole lot.<<
hmmmmm ... Look for this many in your, or my, neighborhood.
Bandelier.
Chaco Canyon.
Taos.
Shiprock (the rock).
Aztec.
Mesa Verde.
US 550 (particularly Durango to Ridgway).
Lizard Head Pass (CO 145).
Telluride.
Canyons of the Ancients / Hovenweep.
Gunnison and Tomichi Rivers (US 50).
Royal Gorge.
And just a little beyond that on either side it goes on and on.
Still, I agree with the assessment that CO and NM should look at spending tax dollars to earn tax dollars, and spending on the C&TS may be a winning proposition by generating more tax dollars than are spent.
Cheers, Jochen