If you assume that physics works similarly, in the world of avatar as in ours.
The fact that a spacefaring civilisation won’t extract the mineral from asteroids, in a significantly more efficient manner, means that the mineral is not the only goal.
As shown in the second movie, biopiracy is a big motivating factor.
Looking at the tech shown, I would surmise that biopiracy is the primary motivator.
The humans in the movies are masters of biological manipulation. They can make a fully functional alien body, also splicing in human DNA; easily enough that they make quite a few in the first movie. These bodies are close enough to the original that they can breed.
The motivation to extend their mastery of biological manipulation has to be huge.
If you assume that physics works similarly, in the world of avatar as in ours.
The fact that a spacefaring civilisation won’t extract the mineral from asteroids, in a significantly more efficient manner, means that the mineral is not the only goal.
As shown in the second movie, biopiracy is a big motivating factor.
Looking at the tech shown, I would surmise that biopiracy is the primary motivator.
The humans in the movies are masters of biological manipulation. They can make a fully functional alien body, also splicing in human DNA; easily enough that they make quite a few in the first movie. These bodies are close enough to the original that they can breed.
The motivation to extend their mastery of biological manipulation has to be huge.