re: Oddball approaches towards SETI
Why do Physics and Mathematics need to be an either/or. I consider them different sides of the same coin. The difference being that with Physics you are dealing with all the forces acting on an object, and mathematics (as we currently understand it) models only a few of those forces.
I consider physics and mathematics to be concrete laws that all ETI and even Deity would have to follow. The catch being that we simply don't know all the rules that govern physics where advanced ETI or deity would have a basic understanding of them which would seem like magic or breaking the laws to us.
-Steve G.