...yes, they could have dealt with evil... by removing Sauron before he ever made contact with Númenor.

Oh yes; sacrificing the Faithful, believing in taking immortality by force despite not having it being their Gift, enslavement of “lesser” Men, etc

What was good and prosperous about it went on to build the Dúnedain Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor

And what about the Numenoreans who were just going about their lives? The ones who weren’t among the faithful, but weren’t taking an active role in persecuting them? What about the babies? Was everyone who the Valar murdered on Numenor responsible for these supposed crimes? And did any of those crimes warrant death?

As I said, such is the price of Evil. It rarely leaves the innocent alone.

But it wasn’t the so-called evil that exacted that price. It was the Valar, who are supposed to be the ultimate good.

Uh, sure.

So…you’re agreeing with me?

No.

The Valar did not pass judgment upon Numenor as they were explicitly forbade from harming the Children. When the Great Armament landed on Aman, the Elder King laid down his right to call upon Eru to pass judgment on something utterly unprecedented. Prior to this, Manwe sent omens to warn the King’s Men of the Doom they would face if they continued upon the path of hubris.

Everything stems from Eru and it was Him that sunk Numenor as punishment. To morally debate the matter is effectively the same folly as Melkor sowing discord into the Music of the Ainur.

Eru may be god, but that doesn’t make him right.