Why would anyone be opposed to de-extinction?

[Scootaloo]

61. Because that's not how it works

Seed dispersal is still possible. Maybe the fruit rolls down a hill, or is washed away by rain, or a jaguar tripping on ayahuasca decides to play ball with it, who knows? Point is, the existing methods are far less reliable than a giant sloth gulping down a whole cluster of the things, and passing them as it waddles through the forest. And in point of fact, all of these plants are in steady decline in the wild (though we cultivate avocados for food and osage orange as a second-rate ornamental.)

And it is in fact not science fiction. We're not talking Jurassic park here. We actually have available samples of usable DNA from all the critters I mentioned so far, plus plenty of others besides. Hides, flesh, those ancient dungheaps I mentioned. I'll grant the sloth is at the far end of the spectrum (it would have to be gestated artificially, since the closest living relative is about the size of a two year old child) but the concept is not at all far-fetched.