User blog comment:Markurion/Extended Cut or Prolonged torture?/@comment-2127388-20120408202817/@comment-1074875-20120409173521

There are two major problems with what the anonymous story writer describe: The Mass Effect universe is based on the technology of the Reapers (if the technology is actually theirs). The mass relays, the Citadel, etc. If you take those out of the story, the universe that the story is based on, suffers).

Based on how successful Shepard has been in acquiring war assets, then most of the brilliant minds, resources, and other personal in the galaxy, are located where the Crucible was constructed. Without them, further development of technology would be problematic. Most of the work will be done by the next generation of people (as far as I understand it).