Life is already an analog computer running on hardware (the universe). You could be correct that if life is using the hardware to the fullest extent, simulating

Life is already an analog computer running on hardware (the universe). You could be correct that if life is using the hardware to the fullest extent, simulating it again would you a horrendous double virtualization penalty. We could already be living under that same double virt penalty. I think we have an outsized focus on free will, partly because free will is a trick played on us by evolution. It takes an exorbitant amount of effort to exercise anything close to what most people would consider free will and the phase lag is measured in hours if not years.