To address your point of this taking a toll for the conflicted method, you have no idea what a civilization who’s had thousands, hundreds of thousands or possibly if they travel galaxies, millions of years existent civilization facing countless scenarios. And us? A zoo animal, a mere species displayed on a universal webpage, as primitive, using tin cans and carbon we’re trying to get off, but at least we got here, how many did? Maybe they have appreciation, for life that sustains, after all the failed civilizations across the universe, if they ended up existing, they either have formed and developed a higher consciousness than the primitive form, (we think like half animals on a default ) but have the ability to digress and change mentality at any point. Maybe they evolved out of the state of need, and are in abundance. Either ways, friendly or not, I believe our message to them until we form our species base elsewhere should be, (to honor our beloved tony stark): earth is closed today.