Also, the 200 probes seems like an incredibly small amount anyways,
Here's another point on the probe issue. So far, we have discussed VNM, machines making machines. In fact, I think there has been an unstated assumption that the probes were unmanned.
However consider manned probes. Upon arriving at a new system, that probe and it's crew set about creating 10's, 100's, 1000's more probes from the raw material of the new system.
I bring this up because it allows for VNM-like expansion with current day technology and is thus could easily be modeled in Bjork v2.0
Also, Mr Bjork can't claim that it's literally impossible as he himself made the assumption starting with something like; unless we invent a much much faster method of propulsion,
It's in his conclusion too:
"However,
unless travel methods are invented which gives access to
faster-than-light-travel, there seems to be no alternative
way to proceed than this proposed process."
Which again highlights my fundamental problem with the author making a wildly speculative claim (FTL seems the only choice for galactic exploration) based on a very limited simulation (200 .1 c probes).
