Is the life of a murderer worth the same as that of a saint? What about the potential of a child versus the experience of an old man? Do they both deserve the freedom to live and love and pursue happiness? Perhaps they do. But do not oversimplify situations. Time spent raising the child is time not spent caring for the old man. The freedom you give the murderer allows him the opportunity to kill the saint.
You ask me if I think it is better to treat lives as data, then personally, yes, I do. Eventually lines must be drawn and decisions must be made to fulfill the responsibility to your people. That is what it means to rule.