: Are the Pfhor really more advanced than humanity?
I didn't really mean that the Pfhor are in any functional measure more advanced, but that they had a 10-12,000 year head start over us. They are chronologically further along in their development. This is because, in the Eternal story at least, both modern mankind and moden Pfhor ("modern" meaning since the fall of the Jjaro) got their start at the same time, but the Pfhor had something of head start due to some Jjaro technology in their possession. So the Pfhor became spacefaring some 10-12,000 years before mankind.
I agree with you otherwise, though, about the lack of scientific interest and the attitude of advancement by conquest. That, and the two great rebellions of Drinniol and Nahk, are how I explain the Pfhor being 10-12K older than mankind but still falling against us in a war.
...and yeah, the S'pht kinda helped too.