> I'd add that it's also by no means a given that life, broadly defined, can only evolve around a sunlike star.

Not a given, but not unreasonable either. Larger stars die faster so they probably won't be around long enough for life. Smaller stars last longer, but they also emit less energy and so there is less likely to be higher life forms just because there isn't enough energy to support life.

Of course life might not be like we know it, but carbon and water are very common in the universe compared to most of the other options and so they are more likely.