isn’t coal more expensive if you take all the negative externalities into account? Specifically increased rates of cancer and other diseases caused by pollution on top of CO2 emission?
Maybe, but that's irrelevant today, the original plans were crushed by reality, and now we must accept the mess and move on. Germany could have been in a better situation, if politicians did a better job a decade or two ago. But complaining today about the mess from yesterday, because of the fails from 12 years ago is pointless.
All that most Germans want to do, is to drive in their SUVs and park everywhere. That is what they vote for. Meanwhile they vote against nuclear (I'm scared) and wind (Verschanden meine Landschaft)