Nostalgia.

Yup! Totally plausible - just more expensive and less repeatable. And harder to use against moving targets.

Although you are correct, this destroys the engine.

A good, efficient fusion engine just needs to point the exhaust end towards the enemy and the hyper-accelerated particles will punch a hole through the target for you. And then you point at the next target, etc. etc.

Also, it’s a butchered quote from Larry Niven’s Known Space books, referred to as the “Kzinti Lesson” - because the Kzinti thought humanity was unarmed and helpless until they discovered that humans are really good at improvising weapons.

The usefulness of a fusion engine as a weapon is directly correlated to its efficiency.

Part of this is likely to be because with how stupidly car-focused the infrastructure is, revoking someone’s license to drive is essentially revoking someone’s right to autonomy.

Well, then the problem would be solved anyways!

I’m pretty sure astronauts are trained on the usage of garbage receptacles.

The air filters would capture it eventually. It’s not like the ISS has dead air.