[steve-b]

Enterprise flying around as the weaklings of the galaxy with the humans patronized by just about everyone as if they were infants taking their first steps

Er, humans in the Enterprise time period are infants taking their first steps onto the galactic stage.

[Question_Assumptions]

Why does that galactic stage have to already be full with humans appearing in the Third Act? In the original series, the Federation was about the most advanced conventional group out there and it's twelve starships were a big deal. You can't throw a stone in Enterprise without hitting some starfaring race's spacecraft.

And, regardless, just because humans are new to space doesn't mean we have to act new to life and reality. You'd think they'd send well adjusted adults out on the first expeditions, wouldn't you?