@Hoss @PNS I don't think the moon landings were faked for the simple reason that people watched them launch the rocket. They needed to build a massive rocket for it to all work, and it was launched in Florida where everyone could see. Then even after it was launched, people were still able to watch them, up to a point, through privately owned telescopes telescopes. I think I was told that the trouble with Apollo 13 was actually witnessed through such a telescope.
If they've already built a rocket large enough to go to the moon, successfully launched it, and successfully sent something out to the moon with it, all in plain sight of everyone, then there's little point in faking it. They've already done 99% of the work right there.
To add to it, if this was all just to own the Russians, then why didn't the Russians call out the US that it was fake? The US needed communication stations all across the planet for the mission, meaning the Russians were probably keeping tabs on it too.
Most of the other problems are easily resolved. "They could have died from radiation, or solar flairs, or if their craft broke!" Yeah, it was dangerous...
"We haven't been back!"
Yeah, because Nixon immediately slashed the budget for NASA. Von Braun wanted to sent people to Venus and Mars next, and NASA decided to dangle a carrot from a stick. "Oh, we need to build a space station first! Oh, we need to build a bigger space station! Oh, we need a space shuttle, it'll keep the NRO guys happy and you'll get your space station that we decided you needed!" Now we're committed to sending a black woman to the moon, and an Indian and a Jew to Mars.