That is an extremely important caveat. Since our sample size of planets with life is n=1, we have a very limited idea of under what circumstances/conditions life is possible.
For all we know, there are many planets containing life, and conditions on earth are extreme with respect to the "bell curve" of habitability.
In any case, it is highly unlikely that we will ever contact an extraterrestrial civilization. Even if they are common, and there are millions in the Milky Way alone, the time it would take to travel, or even just to send messages back and forth, puts the possibility of contact firmly into the realm of science fiction. Too bad, it would be fascinating to study an extraterrestrial civilization or biome.
Actually, life as we know it isn’t a big caveat, not if we are talking about an organism with a larger capacity brain capable of intelligent thought. The larger brain to body mass requires diverse and abundant food sources driving the energy requirements to direct a higher percentage of fuel to the brain. That drives a whole raft of requirements on the host planet.
If you are talking about a single cell amoeba, then I’ll agree with you.
there may be other life out there, but the “bell curve” of live is limited.