As UncleJohn and I appear to sit on "opposite sides" of the answer, to this (I asked
similar stuff here), I am very curious, too.
I think you've stated that "the answer is still within us" fairly well, just the same...
The notion of a "closed loop" scenario dislikes me. To
know that to be the case, well... perhaps we could all benefit more from simply taking up Golf, and putting in our time.
Then comes,
"Ah, that's what you're meant to think... that there is hope. That is the carrot and stick to keep you moving peacefully along."
But then you're back to a circular thing with no real resolution. This then becomes another valid argument for Golf.
Perhaps I should re-examine my feelings about the game, but it just doesn't seem that interesting, to me.
If we are meant to be that controlled, and have somehow "slipped our bonds" then it occurs to me that a species that dispassionate, and powerful would simply re-cycle our species, salvaging what biological material needed. We wouldn't even know it happened. Again, circular.
Anyway, I guess this is another vote to hear your thought on this,
Fred