My theory, and I don't know why this is never mentioned: all societies eventually retreat into inhabiting a purely simulated universe (Matrix/Holodeck), where E

My theory, and I don't know why this is never mentioned: all societies eventually retreat into inhabiting a purely simulated universe (Matrix/Holodeck), where EM emissions and space exploration become a thing of the past, and the society just "goes dark". The dynamic that guarantees it is that great stuff is almost always cheaper/easier to experience via simulation than in reality. We already know that TV plots and video game situations are endlessly more entertaining than our real-world lives. Arranging computing power that can fool our eyes and ears is way easier than mustering the materials to get ourselves into space.