I think, YOU don't get it !!!
There's no such thing as bad technology. Only not controlled (& understand) enough technology. There no such thing as Nuclear Power of the 21st century being the same as nuclear power of the 20th century. Technology is progressing due to human courage.
Do you think that this "head in the sand" attitude" was taking into account by any physicist of any century ? People dyed to make technology better. That's how strong the strive for technological evolution is.
Even if the hole world will be run by sun power or wind or any "non-polluting" technology, THERE WILL STILL BE THE SAME STRIVE FOR NUCLEAR POWER AND BEYOND THAT "ENERGY 0" POWER (IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS THAT) ! "ENERGY 0" POWER CAN WIPE THE HOLE EARTH IN A SECOND AND EVEN AN ENTIRE SOLAR SYSTEM IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG WITH THE EXPERIMENT ? AND STILL PEOPLE WILL TRY THAT EXPERIMENT.
Because that's what we have implanted deep inside us: The need to go beyond, all the time ever and ever and ever. That is not madness. That is the beauty of human spirit ! You must love that !