This reply is just a fun fact for your intro "Just imagine that we could have all been ape-like creatures roaming around the planet if we were born 200,000 years ago."

Brains and guts are the most energy demanding organs on our bodies. Limitating our brains By a) how much energy our brains can take advantage of b)how much energy our guts can absorb and finaly c) How much energy can our food provide.

You add c+b to get an equal of greater>than a

We can evolve further than humans

... Enough with that on the matter I will go to your Higher Order subject.
"While Steemit Inc still has substantial control over the development of network, the distribution of Steem itself is engineered to be decentralised over time. The protocol is also open for any entrepreneurs to build upon "

and call you to check this project.
https://fundition.io/#!/
I chatted him at facebook. @hightouch He claimed to work with the guys for @dtube. There is no reason for me to doubt that
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@funditian/be-a-funditian

The hearts system he uses is probably how smart tokens are going to work in my head.
Totally worth some clicks.

Edit: Nevermind I just noticed you already saw it.