Quantum Key Distribution, RIP?

As you may know, our existing public key methods are at great risk with the advent of quantum computers. So, when the NSA says something about technology, you sit up and listen, as whatever it picks is likely to see heavy investment, and whatever it drops, might drop like a stone. And so, the other day they published their viewpoint on quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum cryptography [here]:

And it’s not good news for those involved in QKD research:

QKD is a method for using the physics of quantum mechanics to create a shared secret between two parties. While it has great theoretical interest and has been the subject of many widely publicized demonstrations, it suffers from limitations and implementation challenges that make it impractical for use in NSS operational networks

But when it comes to traditional cryptography methods for security, the NSA is more positive:

NSA considers cryptography based upon mathematical algorithms to be a better alternative for securing National Security Systems against the threat posed by future developments in quantum computing.