yep. these kind of thought experiments are cute but it's so easy to just immediately dismiss bad science that wants to ignore historical record to write paragraphs of fanfiction

the main crux of these arguments always depends on how it's hard to prove something didn't happen without exact historical evidence for every single organism in every single recorded geologic period, which is a terminating thought to actually holding a rational conversation. OK, cool, then we also: live in a simulation, are observed by aliens or influenced by aliens, move to alternate realities every time we sleep, etc. wow, so "interesting"!!

Various sci-fi has explored this idea, for example Mass Effect, but “Reaper” species could explain that.