they kinda already do, there's a place called the spaceship graveyard where de-orbiting craft target to avoid collisions with inhabited areas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_cemetery

I've often wondered if you could take out a boat there to see a particularly impressive de-orbit. Maybe when they do the ISS, which is scheduled to go there eventually.

There have been cases where craft ended up in inhabited areas. iirc one hit australia and upset some people a few years ago?