User blog comment:Garhdo/Why the Reapers attack Earth/@comment-75.1.218.59-20110111084133/@comment-217683-20110114034229

It's relevant because, when the Human-Reaper was destroyed, and the Collector Base blown up, Harbinger clearly states that the Reapers will "find another way". Now, I don't know about you, but going and doing the exact same thing all over again is not "another way". It's the same way.

And let's not forget, while it was never said directly, the clear implication was that the Human-Reaper (whose construction didn't begin until after Sovereign was destroyed) was being built to replace Sovereign, the vanguard who was to help the rest of the Reapers get to the Milky Way. So, in essence, the Human-Reaper was being built to take over the vanguard role and help the rest of the Reapers get to the Milky Way. The fact that, by the time they attack Earth, at least several other Reapers have gotten to the Milky Way would seem to nullify the need for a Human-Reaper. Attacking Earth to harvest people for a new Human-Reaper, when said Human-Reaper appears to serve no purpose anymore, makes no sense whatsoever, at least IMO.