And like our own society, even if you do not have real threats to survival, you can simulate them for enjoyment. Live in a perfect world? No need to worry about food or shelter? Have whatever you want? Play some games. Log in to an MMO and pretend you are in a world on the brink of destruction and get to save it!

The whole premise that a perfect society will inevitably collapse is nonsense in my view. Aside from a few crazies like Hermes, seems the Ancients were quite content CREATING NEW LIFE. Like holy crap that must have been like playing Spore on steroids. It engaged thought, imagination, and provided struggle as they tried to get them working properly.

And as far as Metion speeding up the heat death of the universe...I somewhat suspect Etheirys' own sun would burn out ending all life LONG before that became an issue for them. Metion was right in that all things will die. Until they come back with the next big bang. And then heat death. Then another big bang, and so on and so on and on. But that is interesting, not depressing.