Re: A good point
I read that the Columbia had only about five days left of fuel and consumables. No way could another Shuttle be launched in that time.
Assuming the damage had been somehow discovered in orbit, the only choices left would be to save the Orbiter at the expense of the crew by letting the crew die in orbit, and sending another Shuttle a month or so later to repair the wing and salvage the orbiter, or to risk a reentry and hope for a lucky break.
I think most people would take the latter. After all, other Shuttles have made it in with busted tiles.