I would not call pandemic prevention rules as abnormal.
We wear thick jackets when it is cold in winter.
We follow pandemic prevention rules during a pandemic.
Unlike in many other countries vast majority of people in Taiwan we not forced to stay at home for months on end. We could go to work and just do what we always did. There were some inconveniences as closure of kindergartens, beaches, etc. for some weeks. Certain businesses were more affected than others, but people adapt.
Bottom line is that Taiwan did great during pandemic. Economy is fine. The expected mortality during the pandemic is higher than observed all-cause mortality in Taiwan. See my post here: