I think that the possibility pointed out earlier, that they simply don't value progress by our definition, is a simple and elegant one. Out-of-story, I think it is a pretty good bit of humor on KA's part; when we hear about crop circles, anal probes and cow abductions from all these people and rational people are going "come on, aliens developed interplanetary travel to come all the way here, not make contact with us, and do these inscrutable things? I'm not buying it," KA is giving it her only bit of smiling nod with a knowing wink, I thought it was amusing.