Interestingly though the EPL has no problems packing out stadiums despite the lack of hope of winning anything for the majority of clubs? Threat of relegation, champions and Euro league places etc ensure that winning the title isn't all that there is to play for.
Re super 15 expansion, you could argue the introduction of Perth and Brisbane would also add to the to pot, improve time slots etc, difference is super 15has balls and NRL doesn't. Re making a ton of money you may have missed the annual report financials!
English soccer does well despite its grossly inequitable structure because the sport is a national obsession and as you say there are structures that provide them access to Europe.
That structure would do nothing for the NRL in Australia's vastly more competitive football market though and in all likelihood would see it lose market share.
Regarding Super Rugby, I'm not sure if you read my whole comment but the poor balance sheet of the ARU was precisely why they expanded; the status quo wasn't working and they rely on foreign TV cash to keep afoot due to flagging domestic interest.
Again, it had nothing to do with courage; foreign TV cash in the form of the overs paid by the Brits has saved the ARU's bacon and so the prospect of prime time games in the American time slot, plus the emotional investment of Japan's millions who are currently experiencing a rugby boom makes the inclusion of the Jaquares and SunWolves not so much an act of courage but one in which dollar signs were firmly in SANZAR's eyes. Particularly given that the JRFU have inexplicably agreed to forgo any Japanese TV money for Super Rugby, allowing it all to go to the existing members until the current deal is renegotiated.
If Perth had a strong domestic League comp that made the Pirates able to field an NRL side with few existing NRL players required AND their inclusion promised a significant increase in TV revenue, then I think the "courage" to expand the comp there would be very very easy to find in the NRL.
Again, I'm a big supporter of the Pirates concept and hope they get a team soon, but I think you're ignoring certain realities when you frame this as being about courage.