I don't think the Russians see "over land" as a particularly big obstacle. Right now they just drop their spent first stages on land without much guidance. Before launches from Baikonur, they send out soldiers in helicopters to warn the nomads, and otherwise it's pretty much every man for himself. Salvaging the spent stages is apparently a bit of a cottage industry there.

Just a bit of a nitpick, your overall point here is entirely sound.