Sure, no helium purification equipment means no rising balloons, but from a more practical standpoint other science is hurt. Helium in a liquid state helps keep instruments cooled to the point where more accurate measurements can be taken, for molecular motion is reduced at the over -400 degrees Fahrenheit that the helium would exist in. Medical equipment also makes use of super cooled helium.
The U.S. plans to buy its helium from other producers such as Russia, Algeria, and Qatar once the Reserve is depleted and has transferred to the private sector, but this only prolongs the problem of running out of the precious gas. Within 40 years those resources may also be gone. Helium is produced naturally though the decay of radioactive elements, but considering the age of the Earth and the time that it has taken to deplete it, this is not a viable option to depend on for our lifetime.
Some scientists think that raising the price of helium to about $100 per balloon will deter people from buying it for recreational purposes and will help in conservation as well as inspiring more recycling programs. As space technologies progress, the possibility of mining helium on the Moon arises as well as the Jovian planets, though the transportation of it remains a problem. Unless something is done soon, however, helium purification system will be but a memory for generations to come.