"If you truly believe that that trade-off is worth it, "

???

Whuan/Australia clamped down and then they were relatively COVID free and their economies are expanding. The US is still in upside down mode with business flailing people dying.

.5% death rate is meaningless if 1) it expands rapidly enough to overwhelm the health system 2) even at that rate we're talking millions of dead Americans and therefore must be dealt with.

I'd 100% have rather taken the path of Wuhan, Australia or Taiwan who have effectively dealt with this issue while the rest of us flail in the wind.