Ah, I see. So what IS the magic mortality number something must reach before it is a worthy endeavor and no longer a "pet project"?
Does your opinion change if you or someone you love develops a "less fatal" - in this scenario less than 13,000 deaths - disease?
Any morality/lifestyle factors in your decision making? You know, smoker, gay, drinker, drug abuser. What about people who spent too much time in the sun? Drank too much coffee or soda. Ate too much. People who don't exercise. Where do you draw your line?