No one really caters to the possibility of us stumbling on a less advanced species or a more advanced species stumbling on us and technological swaps going on as the superior civilization nurtures the other into a significant place in the universe. Like a space bro, but on a galactic scale.
It's anthropomorphism. Our own history is littered with examples of the more advanced civilization basically fucking the less advanced one with a sharp stick, so it seems rational to assume the same outcome with different species. Our species history is extremely thin on examples to the "bro" kind. Even ones like the Romans came with a rather large catch. "You can join our empire and take part in the wonders of our civilization...but you must bow to the Emperor and forsake your ways (and to gain citizenship, serve 40 years in the Legions)."
One interesting parallel in Earth history not often explored is what happens when an advanced, sedentary but mostly peaceful civilization encounters a less advanced but more militaristic society (frequently nomadic as well). China was the technological pinnacle of Asia for millenia, and had vast manpower resources. And yet, it constantly fell to invading tribes from the steppes. Europe had advanced weapons and armor and a feudal culture that focused on producing elite warriors, and yet the Mongols kicked their asses for decades. The Egyptian Middle Kingdom fell to the Hyksos. The city-states of Mesopotamia fell to the Assyrians. The Romans fell to the sheer weight of barbarian tribes on their borders.
Right now, we're the sedentary culture (although anyone advanced enough to be "nomadic" in space would automatically out-tech us). I like the idea though that one day *we* could be Space Huns/Goths/Mongols, roving the galaxy in packs of aging, (relatively) low-tech ships and fighting our way into established alien empires to claim a chunk of living space.