Thanks for the link, fascinating discussion in these answers. I found this very relevant to this point: http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-did-t

Thanks for the link, fascinating discussion in these answers. I found this very relevant to this point: http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-did-the-machines-even-bother-with-a-matrix?rq=1 http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-did-the-m.... One other problem with the humans as batteries thing (in addition to its inelegance) is that the machines could have used cows or pigs to much better effect. This comment wraps it up nicely: "All the machines ever wanted was to be left alone, not destroy humanity. I suppose this is the most humane solution they could think of"