You describe the situation today accurately. The grand challenge is changing the energetics curve through biotechnology. That preselection of materials is the m

You describe the situation today accurately. The grand challenge is changing the energetics curve through biotechnology. That preselection of materials is the mindset I was referring to, so exactly the opposite is true; to make a meaningful advance you need to start with materials which are difficult and energy-cost-inneficient today and shift the work from exogenous sources to self, or nearly-self sustaining processes.