Along a similar path, there was a dystopian theory (story?) I came across that made a somewhat insightful reference to this in connection with the Fermi Paradox - what if advanced civilizations all "go digital" (or in to the "XR" space)? I could imagine future peoples not being bothered to physically explore if their new reality all existed in a virtual/holographic state. A self-imposed pod, The Matrix-style, for everyone. Man, I love sci-fi.