“the latter involves the torture of innocent creatures. “
innocent?
that implies:
1. animals have moral bechira. do they?
2. they can be guilty as well. can they?
torture?
that implies they have consciousness (not just automated responses.) do they? could be, no one knows. can they feel pain? not unless they have consciousness (although their bodies can respond to pain.
there are a lot of questions in your statement that even your strong faith in Scientism cannot answer. you are of course free to believe what makes the most sense to you
i prefer to believe in Chazal, and the Minhagim of the Holy children of the Creator.