NASA was also doing things that were never done before.

The 737 Max is much worse at doing things that were done much better for decades before it.

This was 60 years ago in a desperate race with the Soviets and with an expendable flight crew. Hardly comparable conditions to commercial aviation.

You can have a known risk/failure mode, and risk manage it.

It's another matter entirely to pass on the flawed device to a third party with no preparations and warning. Then people die.