If Neanderthals and Sapiens were separate species

[Warpy]

6. Separate species can produce viable offspring

but usually the first generation males are sterile. The examples are horse-donkey producing mules, offspring between lions and tigers.

We did share a vast amount of DNA with them, I think around 95%. Better facial reconstructions have shown they might be stared at on a subway, but they really weren't all that different from us. The lifestyles at the time were quite similar and likely technology was shared along with DNA.

Bottom line is that they were human, they were people, and we didn't always pick fights with them.