How can I realistically use pantropy in a hard science fiction setting?

[stevebowers]

Mind uploading was very rare and largely avoided before First Federation era in OA because only destuctive uploading was possible. Most people prefer not to live forever if they have to die first.

Pantropy need not involve uploading; Rynn has given several examples of pantropy that does not, and one he missed (although he may come back to it later) is teleoperation; a person could live in life support (like in Avatar) and operate a remote-controlled body. These remotes might be biological robots (biobots) or drytech devices depending on the severity of the environment.