What is the opinion of historians on the real utility of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings? Is it possible that they saved more lives than they took?

by chivestheconquerer
davepx

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3fzyyp/yesterday_was_the_70_anniversary_of_the_bombing/? and the links in the first response there offer lots of perspectives. Consensus remains elusive.