> Being 20 times cheaper while producing 2% of the kWh because they're turned off 98% of the time makes them 250% more expensive per kWh.

Which ignores the cost of using nuclear during that other 98% (or whatever) of the time, when it is very expensive compared to the alternatives.

Yes, the cost just during that 2% is high. But the total cost is lower than if nuclear has to be forced down the consumer's throats 24/7.