It really is though. If it were more deadly like Ebola, people would be taking it far more seriously and it would burn itself out quicker. If it were less deadly, akin to the flu, we wouldn't have too many deaths regardless. It seems to sit right in the sweet spot of just deadly enough to cause mass casualties while being benign enough that a large portion of people don't take it seriously, and thus contribute to it's uncontrollable spread. This will easily end up killing more Americans than the 1918 flu by the end of next year.

also:

"Previous studies reported that viral shedding can begin before the appearance of COVID-19 symptoms (8,9), and evidence of transmission from presymptomatic and asymptomatic persons has been reported in epidemiologic studies of SARS-CoV-2 (5,10,11). Because KCDC performed strong infection control procedures during boarding; the medical staff and crew members were trained in infection control; all passengers, medical staff, and crew members were tested twice for SARS-CoV-2; and a precise epidemiologic investigation was conducted, the most plausible explanation for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to a passenger on the aircraft is that she became infected by an asymptomatic but infected passenger while using an onboard toilet. Other, less likely, explanations for the transmission are previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure, longer incubation period, and other unevaluated situations. "

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3353_article#r1

asymptomatic transmission is not FUD it is very real. what has not been expounded clearly enough is that the virus is inducing second order effects that are latent to incubation and transmission. the reproductive process of the virus is minimally damaging, with respect to the immuno sequelae

when it comes to the chase this is not about asymptomatic transmission, this is about presymptomatic transmission.

Actually it really does matter. Just like the anecdotes of people becoming re-infected. These things often get presented in the media as if they are common but turn out to be rare. I don't know if that's the case regarding asymptomatic transmission or not but there is an ongoing debate about it.

you seem to be hung up on the idea that some people go through the entire disease and recovery process with no reported symptoms. that is the uncommon occurance. I am not talking about media anecdotes, i am talking about the reality that has been observed by numerous independent instance of professional observation and documentation.

to wit: 3 to 7 days incubation symptom free while being contagious during that time, and onward through the course of the disease. it dosnt matter how uncommon or common asyptomatic transmission is, the progression of transmission, is exponential when no mitigations are made.

* Normalized by population though, you would be looking at today's equivalent of ~2.15 million deaths in the US from the 1918 flu.