Ok, we're a primitive space-faring species ( ok, we send out "probes".... LOL)...and look what we send out....mechanical machines, with primitive brains...not even biological. So, if we MET a space-going craft, it could have a robot, because a metall...
Man power... Robots will force man out of jobs and cause poverty. Robots can't think rationally and are not sophisticated as man. Robots can only do limited tasks. A world with robots is just sad and impersonal.
It's certainly less expensive (since you don't need to worry about life support). But, as you say, robots are pretty inflexible. And there's an intangible 'something' about having an actual person there. Doug