Here's why it's important that both sentient creatures and creatures with a modicum of biomass be removed from the galaxy in order to starve the Flood to death:
Biomass: Creatures with any amount of calcium can be physically infected by the Flood, their DNA altered to fit the will of the Flood hordes, etc. This is obviously a very important thing, as the hosts of the Flood are also their food: Flood Carrier and Combat slowly degrade due to the fact that the Infection Form within is feeding on their calcium stores. Eventually, I assume, a Flood-infected body is reduced to liquid as all the solid support is removed. So, as long as calcium-bearing bodies exist, the Flood may feed.
Sentience: The Flood have a compound intelligence, a hive mind: a finite number x of minds in a finite number y of bodies. Each Infection Form carries the knowledge (albeit, it cannot access it) required to form the Super Brain Form that can actually produce sound and provide a voice and focus for the Flood Gravemind. As long as sentient minds exist, even robotic minds, they can be accessed and "downloaded" by the Flood, adding their knowledge and experience to the Gravemind. Although without bodies the Flood cannot grow immediately, if minds exist, the Flood will only grow stronger in the long run.
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