It's possible to argue for hours that foam supressant might not have helped but in reality few if offered the option would turn it down. The Tornado has a nitrogen inerting sytem for the fin tank and I have never heard anyone saying it's a waste of money.
Much as people like to say they are paid good money and there are risks - as a taxpayer it's a good investment to spend 50K in the hope that a Hercules might survive a war zone rather than have to buy a new one and pay widows pensions and train new crews.