Two electrons with trajectories 180o opposed and on paths separated by 1000 meters open space pass. They deflect. How has the underlying reality of each electron changed? Do you consider all electrons to be different, because they are on different paths?
" And it is axiomatic that a transfer or exchange of energy changes the underlying reality, whatever that may be."
The minimum amount of energy to exchange one bit of info is Emin, where Emin=kTln(2) joules/bit. How has the underlying reality of the universe changed in the case of the 2 passing electrons? Is it significant?
Ah! Now I get it! You are talking about the "underlying reality of the universe." Or maybe more locally, the underlying reality of what the electrons are, right? I'm talking about the reality in terms of the state of the particles/things that are being observed. I knew we were using SOME term here in different ways from each other.
I'd say that the underlying (reality of the) state of the electrons has changed, namely their momentum as represented by a vector. Is that significant? Maybe, depends on what you mean by significant, what the electrons might affect in their environment, etc. Let's not even go there. Has that changed the "underlying reality of the universe" or even the underlying reality of what the electrons are? Nope, they are still electrons, which can express themselves aka be observed and interact with other things as waves or particles or in other ways (e.g., through electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields). Now I see what point you were making.
Ah, the limitations of language, esp. when typed...