Nationalistic pride ? The same argument could be made of Canadians, why not just surrender and become Americans, the cost should justify the means. Ah ! Its different now isn't it ?
Seriously, such comments are typical of those who do not grant much importance to linguistic, historical and cultural rights. The inhabitants of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and French citizens and have always wanted to remain so. To go against this smacks of .. neo-colonialism ?