[augustulus]

it could be that carbon-based life somehow pre-empts x-based life when carbon exists in the environment, even if there’s more of x

[thsksbd]

Sure, as a matter of logic in the absence of chemical knowledge.

Once you study the various elements and realize that carbons' chemistry is uniquely rich with a set of capabilities other elements lack non carbon replication becomes meh.

Silicon comes close, but the energies suck, elemental Si is too stable, and its oxide a solid.

[scotty79]

> oxide a solid

At room temperature and pressure of rooms built by beings made of carbon.

[augustulus]

the logic here is extremely iffy