I'm agnostic, but also do not subscribe or cling strongly to the theory of evolution. So I've never put much thought into the different types of Hominid. Nor am I particularly sold that humans come from apes absent some pretty radical and possibly extraterrestrial interventions. But that for me runs into the realm of wild and rampant speculation, leading me to a place where no solid conclusions can be obtained. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating read and good to get your ideas on the matter! You definitely took my mind somewhere it's never gone before.

P.S. If extraterrestrial interventions are responsible for modern man, i.e., genetic splicing of primates with off-world races, then that'd make many modern religious folk who worship various ET "gods" tantamount to warring cargo cults. A disturbing but fairly cosmologically comical thought on the matter.