> We have collectively decided that the cost/benefit is not worth it.

I don't think the decision has been conscious.

More importantly the costs and benefits haven't been amortised over the life (and impact) of those decisions. Or, if you will, it hasn't been worth it yet. Unfortunately at the point where we can properly assess the enormous cost of these decisions, the opportunity will be long gone.

It is absolutely conscious. Mainly conscious by politicians and lobbyists, who are high powered but generally fail a science literacy test. And our population, we, are the ones electing them.