Another flaw is that it assumes that the hardware component, .e.g. rocks, somehow represents the consciousness instead of the 'software'. For example, our brai

Another flaw is that it assumes that the hardware component, .e.g. rocks, somehow represents the consciousness instead of the 'software'. For example, our brain is required for our own consciousness, but that is merely the hardware. And we see the hardware of the brain existing without consciousness when people fall into a coma. The example with the rocks is simply the hardware. Furthermore, the number of rocks needed to produce consciousness in this manner would likely cause them to coalesce into a planet under the influence of gravity from which life and consciousness itself might arise! After all, Earth is a collection of rocks that gave rise to consciousness.