Rik -- Thanks very much! That cheers me while trying to recover from an old back injury that's flared up again.

Gray -- Thanks! Humanity has such a lot on its plate...but it seems that technology keeps right on advancing and the debates over robotics/A.I., as to whether we should be working in this direction, or whether we need to (or should not) is a hot one on science forums. Very interesting viewpoints surface. Some feel it's inevitable given enough time.

Gary -- Thanks also! I agree, the story and future could go either way...a lot to ponder in what to gain and what could be lost.