A space elevator is really an optimization in reducing fuel costs for upfront investment. Such a thing becomes attractive past a certain volume of launches.
While it’s never necessary, it will make sense at some point.
Without an atmosphere can use coil guns etc to launch projectiles just as easily. You get more cargo capacity for lower investment and can still operate on solar or nuclear power.
If the moon rotated faster a space elevator might be more interesting but it would just be really slow, expensive, and a large risk if it where to break.
