Perhaps, BUT then one has to assume that every single intelligent race that has found us decided to leave us alone, and since it is reasonable to assume at four intelligent civilizations have evolved since the dawn of the universe, one has to assume that all four intelligent societies agrees to leave us alone. Also, this assumes that any advanced alien race has morals/ethics/ideals . . .
That's the problem with "option (3)"
Ah, good. ET stuff.
One theory suggests that races capable of FTL travel reserve contact until a race has reached FTL ability.
Or, perhaps we're the first to have developed enough to contemplate space travel. We may be the first members of the UP (United Planets).