The debate was in a religious setting. Actually, the emphasis turned out to be on the 2nd question. The point was that there could be no ultimately negative consequences of some one of us humans ever having achieved "perfection" (defined as 'always doing the right thing.)
To think, though, that NO ONE had ever attained such a simple sounding achievement, "always doing the right thing," was somewhat depressing.
Why? No one will ever run the mile in 5 seconds, but breaking the record has inspired a lot of athletes. The challenge of being alive and being fully human is to see how well we can do with the gifts God has given each of us as individuals. If we could attain perfection, we would have no need of God.
In fact, I am of the-shedding-this-mortal-coil school of thought: I think when we depart this life, we will lose the shackles of what it means to be human. THEN we will know perfection, and be one with it.