Will get back to this post in detail (I'm at work right now!), but am not sure I agree completely.

Yes, I suppose it depends on which theory you subscribe to. I would have to make a disclamer myself, as I am into quantum mechanics and have never had serious interest in astrophysics. This is partly the reason that I have trouble getting through the Hawking books, though it is all connected. That and I suppose my personal opinion that the uniqueness theory rules and we are indeed alone in the universe(s).

could babble all day about it myself ;-)