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Oh, I can't wait until Pai Mei finds this thread. That will inject some life into it.
Now, that said, there are some obvious exceptions to your claim about pre-Columbian folks, most notably the Aztec and the Inca (although there were several others). Both had cultures and technology far beyond China c. 3000 BCE. There were significant cities and innumerable towns/permanent settlements that stretched ran the length of both continents. Calling these a "dead branch" of humanity ignores the very real impact of disease on those cultures. Cortez's subugation of the Aztec was no foregone conclusion and was a very close thing. It has been argued that it wasn't Cortez who actually overthrew the Aztec but the dominated neighbors who had been waiting for the opportunity.
So it's hard for me to answer your question since the premise for the arguement is based on a basic misunderstanding.
As for your last question, though, until humanity develops foresight, it's a moot point since humans will always act on what they think the best solution for "right now" is, not what is best for 100 years from now.
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"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
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