My question is not whether we might be the first advanced species, but more about human nature.

I've read many theories about intelligent life in space and why we might not know about them. The great filter, Fermi paradox, etc. The popular theories presume that if there were intelligent life, it would be way more advanced than us. Do you think we are imagining more advanced species because we need god-like creatures in our lives, or is it a more practical approach? Taking or stealing someone else's research is always cheaper than doing it yourself.