I think the only mainstream media that commented on the loss of life on the Death Star was the movie "Clerks" where one of the characters is very upset by the thought of all the contractors who lost their lives on Death Star II.

If you reflect on it, though, both Death Stars were a huge loss of life that must have hit the Empire hard and probably brought about a good amount of anti-Rebel sentiment. At least until word of Alderaan got out.