Except of course if there ever really was nuclear war, they'd be much safer.
You could use the same line of argument for a lot of things: seat belts, guard rails, non-slip shoes
Silly people spending money to prevent something that most likely won't happen.
However as a society we accept sometimes that preventing a marginal risk is the best scenario
Maybe not the government, but if you are in a high end resort, and staying on a beach bungalow (or living on the coast), it might be comforting to have one out back.
What the Indonesians needed was a warning, not an escape pod. With no warning, the pods are useless. With warning, just get out of the path.
The key here is how much warning. Having been to indonesia, I can tell you that if you're on a beach you'll see signs everywhere pointing out the most efficient tsunami escape path. The problem is, even if you see it coming, and you start running, you might not be able to cover the kilometer or so to safety in the time you have warning. (Contrary to popular opinion tsunamis are not a giant wave, but more like a tide rolling in)
This provides a solution that allows you to survive with less reaction time. Which may be a good thing.
What is research but a blind date with knowledge? -- Will Harvey