Looks like the “RNA world” hypothesis of abiogenesis just got another supporting data point.
Fray ping.
Your bailiwick, no?
I don't think so. They have only found another mechanism by which complex chemical reactions can be controlled. They only say that RNA is less complex because they do not understand how it works. And it only "appears" to be less complex than DNA.
The same kind of people say the appendix does not currently serve a purpose. I used to remember in high school they said that the appendix was "vestigial".