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Is your login name associated with the alien that Niven featured in one of his early works where the alien had arms like pipes, and used to eat some kind of food that resembled a yam?

Well, yes, but.....

I prefer to picture Pak Protectors as hyper intelligent members of the genus Homo, who are able to sacrifice their own well being to do the "right thing" to preserve their progeny (the Human race). Of course, I actually prefer the slightly mad and anarchic derivative of Phsstpok, created later in the story (when a human get's hold of one of those "yams") named Brennan. I had scant hope that anyone would recognize "Brennan Monster" as a handle, however. ;^>

I believe he drove a Rambooster space vehicle.

A Bussard Ramjet, actually. A very real design that should be a practical interstellar spacecraft, so long as you don't mind leaving your entire civilization behind while you travel to the stars (due to relativistic affects).

I actually had an argument with Niven in a con suite one time about his biological background for the relationship between humans and Pak Protectors. His science really doesn't hold up over time. He admitted it but couldn't see a way around it. I provided him a couple of ideas as well as a great "out" by simply pointing out that the "bogus science" was provided third hand from Phsstpok (the alien) by way of Brennan (the human Belter changed into a Protector) and it might be in their interests to provide us a false explanation for the similarities in physiology between humans and protectors. There was some tiny hints in the 4th Ringworld book that he may have remembered that conversation, but he never really tackled the question.

Ah well......