Yeah, I think the problem with my thought experiment is that I'm probably assuming too high a level of precision (or perhaps perfection) in whatever alien speci

Yeah, I think the problem with my thought experiment is that I'm probably assuming too high a level of precision (or perhaps perfection) in whatever alien species we're talking about. Time, I suppose, is the great equalizer and there's probably little reason to assume that a space fairing civilization would no longer have the kinds of problems that plague every civilization, so your explanations ring true to me.