Your first point is valid and the answer can be debated both ways. From my point of view, scientific advancements through the centuries have come at the cost of

Your first point is valid and the answer can be debated both ways. From my point of view, scientific advancements through the centuries have come at the cost of what we consider now immoral treatment of animals and humans. I feel that we're going to see a repeat of some of this behavior with simulated entities for a while once we gain the capability. It may be accepted, and not even an issue for the public at large, until some signs are being found that the entities are conscious. Hopefully we collectively approach this area of research with the foreknowledge not to repeat previous mistakes. In the end, I feel strongly that our moral definitions will expand to include simulated entities. This is vital for the existence of AI-type minds (constructed and uploaded) to co-exist in society with flesh and blood humans. A further note to that effect is the recent movement to give sentience-rights to cetaceans and the protection that goes with it. Its encouraging to see that movement taking off, as it will bode well for our hypothetical simulated fellows in the future. To your second point, I believe you vastly under estimate the research that will be done in the next few years. There are incredible things already done in labs around the world that aren't widely viewed yet. In the next few years that research is going to start exiting the lab and start hitting the marketplace. The last 20 years of advancement are nothing compared to the next 20. We would all do well to bet on a stranger, faster future rather than one that seems like the status quo of the moment.