"It is simply much cheaper in a modern society to use machines to do drudge work; people, even slaves are high maintenance."

Yes, thank you for clarifying. Which leaves the question, how do I justify having slaves in a high tech world? Well, I don't; in this new story I just accept it; like I said, I don't think it requires all that much suspension of disbelief.

I just disagree with the premise of Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek:" namely, that technology will make us better people by satisfying our wants and needs. I just don't think human nature works that way.