[George Rice]

I realized many years ago that it doesn't matter what anybody does, because in some point in time we, everything we know, and all records of everything we know will just become stardust.

Yet, I can't explain why I live my life like it matters. Even though I've observed that people don't really care in the final analysis about anything but themselves. Actually, I can't say in the final analysis, as I haven't come to that part of my life yet. But life goes on, or I should say the universe goes on, and we all just adapt to our surroundings. When it comes right down to it, does anybody really care about the axe murderer, holocaust, or if the woman next door was raped? And I mean beyond how it will effect them personally?

There's something inside us, instinct perhaps, that makes us care about our families, especially our offspring. But I suspect that feeling or concern wears off as time goes on, and as each generation becomes reality. A parent may care about their child, but as much when the child is 40 as when it was 4? As much for a grandchild as their child? How about a great grandchild, or a great great grandchild? Perhaps contemplating one's demise effects caring about other people to a point. I don’t have any offspring myself, but I suspect, and have observed, that the farther you get from the person in question, the less they will care.

So, speaking on behalf of the human race, 200 years will be more than enough for most people not to care about the future and to take the instant gratification now. Many will rationalize it by saying that we'll come up with a solution in the future so that the consequence doesn't happen, or that those who point out the consequence are just being alarmists (global warming anyone?). And that's even if there is no question about it in most minds.

So to answer your question, should the procedure be done and how many years will the human race need to continue to make it worth it? I don't know, I don't want to put myself in the position of having to make that decision, stardust or not.