One problem I have with the "it's just a simulation" idea is that the same question could be posed at the outer level, and the level above it, ad infinitum. It's simlar to the creator paradox. If there's a creator, then who created the creator, and so on... At one point I thought they were gonna pull that card with the Matrix sequels but they didn't. The reality layer in The Matrix was presented as THE reality.
But this inability to deal with the outer layer makes it feel like a cheap excuse to me.
At the same time, there is a genuine problem here, which is freewill vs. destiny.
Quantum theory seems to be heavily related to chaos theory.
Where freewill comes into play is whenever we make a decision. That was something that was raised in the infamous
Architect scene in Matrix Reloaded.
There's probably some interaction of neurons that would have prevented either of the Wachowkis deciding to have sex-change operations, and yet the ones that played out lead them to both lop off their dongs.
But it's that moment when you're mulling something over when contemplation changes to action, THAT is mysterious, especially when you're going to do something truly original or counter-intuitive.
What depresses me the most about red-pill thought is the biology is destiny aspect of human nature, especially when it comes to women. You hook them using a predefined script, and then they fly the coop as soon as someone better comes along, and this seeming predictability almost makes it hard to think of women as having actual freewill rather than than just being
automatons following linear programming.