In my own opinion, it is more sentimental value than anything.
The Jahre Viking, is of great significance...When it comes to Maritime achievements...However, one could say otherwise - The fact that she, fully laden, could not pass through the English Channel says that she had little use, and was only really built for specific ports...Like the Berge Stahl, although quite a bit smaller, was too.
However, I DO think that some ships such as Queen Elizabeth 2, or the SS France, should of/be saved. At least, as maybe a casino, (Like The France was for a period), or maybe just as a floating attraction somewhere, maybe as a hotel.
In a way, the likes of the Queen Mary is an exception when it comes to saving maritime achievements. She has a grand spot there, and, attracts many people - Because she is unusual, and was once a Cunarder...And shows what Ocean Liners were like in their prime.
A ship like the SS France on the other hand, would be to some degree, harder to sell to the general public. And, looking at the Norway in her final years - She was a total wreck. One of her boilers exploded in 2004, and Norwegian Cruise Lines lost total interest in her...She was an insurance nightmare, and, you could tell - It was time for her to "depart"..
In a sense, the Norway was given a second chance as being a cruise ship - And, I think that, people would only WANT to see her as the SS France, since the 'Norway' isn't nothing all that interesting to look at...With those added Aliminium decks, her whole slenderness, and idea of the 60's period Ocean Liner, was ruined...Hence why I think, if the Norway wasn't scrapped - She wouldn't be much use regardless. Since she just doesn't look LIKE an Ocean Liner...which would be the reason why people would want to see her, like the SS Rotterdam, Or Queen Mary.
Anyway...I blabbered a bit too much there, but, to sum it up, I think it all boils down to sentimental value to people (And myself, even), seeing an icon of the shipping industry dissapear, is sad...But at the same time - What purpose did the Jahre Viking serve, really? For the last few years of her life as an FSO, she just sat there...And even before that, she had a very broken up life span (quite literally), with the whole "war" over oil between Iran and Iraq and such...
Jack.