I’ve been reading this stuff for 60 years.
I’ve always thought that there possibly could be some kind of ‘intelligence’ native to Earth that doesn’t present in a way that we understand; but even if it exists, I wouldn’t believe it’s ET.
I am not convinced of the “ET” piece either—at least in the way it is portrayed in popular entertainment.
I am convinced that we are not on the top of the pecking order on this planet.
One new book I would recommend supporting this view:
https://www.amazon.com/Children-Orion-Cryptoterrestrials-Ryan-Musgrave-Evans/dp/B0932CX9WM