Mikey wrote:"Energy rations" for the replicators could just as easily apply to the energy required for their usage, not necessarily to actually supply them. Statements like that really don't prove anything, because they can be interpreted either way depending on one's own original opinion of the replicator's function.
However, we are not just inventing answers, we are applying known facts to make educated guesses. Fact one, the replicators are a derived technology of Transporters. fact 2, Transporters are a matter to energy to matter converter. Fact 3, matter and energy are the same just in different states of being. fact 4, its been stated that a neutral material, aka we will call it matter x, is used by the replicators to create what it does.
supposition, this matter x is converted to energy, moved along the eps conduits to the replicator, and then converted back to matter and pressed into whatever pattern that has been selected.
Supposition, although more expensive, energy can be drawn directly from the main matter/antimatter plasma systems, routed to the replicator, and again the energy can be converted into matter and pressed into whatever pattern is selected.
educated guess, when someone is put on an 'energy ration' this refers to the rationing of the energy drawn from the main energizers and used for whatever purpose.
