I think people are desensitized to the downsides of strict code. I don't think that either is "better", but I appreciate having spent a lot of time working in a lazy-by-default language.

I think the best option is total-by-default, honestly. I really like how Idris works, for instance. If you must work with some code which is non-normalizing then your choice of laziness/strictness can be a major architectural one—like organizing the entire pipeline of your program around a lazy consumer stream/set of coroutines.