> The question is for a building which actually struggled to raise the $7m used for the initial repair project, are people going to be patient enough to spend the $700m and 10/15/20 years to rebuild it with anything approaching the care, quality, and craftsmanship of the original?

I'd wager yes, this probably woke people up that they've let their country's icon crumble, and money (and time) will now be no objects.