The age of the universe alone is enough for me not to discount intelligent life.

We are back to one million monkeys typing a Shakespeare sonnet. You still think it is time enough without 'help', just natural processes? The appearance of life seems 'destined' since it appeared so quickly on this planet, so I assume that you assume it is destined everywhere? SETI is still waiting.

See my other entry today, sticking a fork in natural selection as a driving force.