Can you say how many lives have been saved because of the nuclear power plants over the past 30-40 years? This would include cleaner air in the meantime, costs which were saved and re-deployed to social welfare programs, cheaper power for individuals and businesses, meaning cheaper goods and more money available to feed and house love ones and spend on health care, and hell, even more money to spend on the expensive construction codes which undoubtably saved many thousands of lives during this tragedy.

I really can't say how many lives are enhanced or saved by simply being more efficient. And I can't predict the future, so neither do I know if nuclear power will ultimately be our downfall. But the question is far more complex than "society considers the loss of life acceptable." Society makes these choices to support and sustain better (and more numerous) lives.