>We can't perfectly model a physical system (a quantum system, at some level) with classical computing. We'd need a quantum computer,

No we don't. The probability wave can be simulated. Decoherence cannot be simulated unless we have a true random number generator. But this is a simulation. We can perfectly simulate, but not perfectly recreate. In fact even with entropy for random number generation derived directly from quantum foam you cannot deterministically recreate the behavior of any atom. You can only "simulate." because the nature of the math equation involves randomness and perfectly imitating randomness involves luck.

>The question is what it's "pointing" from. And, of course, we have no idea; we can't even prove that this is the case.

Your statement is also highly unlikely. It's like saying the universe was created by a turtle. You can't prove or disprove it. But it can still be considered absurd.

>One is a perfect substitute for (or copy of) the other. Consciousness likely violates this. We believe (although, without proof) that a perfect physical copy of a person would harbor a separate consciousness and that they would in fact diverge.

The word consciousness is loaded, poorly defined and complicated. It is a language phenomenon that tricks people into thinking consciousness is some profound concept. It is not. It is simply a series of thousands of attributes related to intelligence such that if you have all the attributes you are conscious if you are missing one attribute, you are not conscious and nobody fully agrees on what all these attributes are. That's it. So they argue about it thinking it's some philosophical debate when they're really just arguing about vocabulary and trying to map out the definition of a loaded word.

It's a big trick.

A copy of consciousness would be like a copy of a computer. There's nothing magical about it. Would the copy of a computer behave exactly identical to the original? Maybe not "exactly" but they would be similar... but there is nothing profound about that.

You're getting hung up on the pointer. So if I copy a computer will the "pointer" suddenly be confused? No. It won't be because there is no "pointer" to a computer just like consciousness is NOT a pointer. It's actually shows bias the fact that you have this notion of a pointer. Think about it. If I copy a rock what happens to the pointer of the rock? When I copy a printout what happens to the pointer to that printout? Why does consciousness arbitrarily out of nowhere suddenly have a possibility of a pointer? What is it that makes you think this unprovable concept of a pointer applies just to consciousness but you don't really think about it for other mundane forms copying?

It's bias for the word "consciousness" likely caused by the "big trick" I talked about above.

You are a physical being you are not a pointer pointing to a physical being... the brain and your soul are one in the same thing. This makes sense because this is how we assume all OTHER things in the universe work. There's no pointer pointing to them so why is there suddenly a pointer to consciousness? You said it's unprovable, but to even entertain this possibility is like entertaining the possibility the universe was created by a turtle. Possible... but unprovable.