3.84% to 2.08% is a 45% reduction in the amount of people that died. I don't understand your point, there is no obfuscation here, that's just how percentages work.
Um, no. 3.84% to 2.08% being an approx 40% reduction is exactly what is being avoided currently in research since its reduction of less than 2 percentage units. Imagine a medication that has a "20% and 40% reduction in mortality": You'd have to have more than 150 people treated to the max to save one person vs other cases (more than 75 to save vs no medication). Not 5 as your percentage implies. Not very efficient way to spend money if you ask me.