The Hypotheticals are far removed from the majority of the plot. While it is in the background, with some philosophical waxing about their nature, I do not think that is fair to characterize it is as a Von Neumann probe story. To a fairly similar effect, the novel could have been catalyzed by a wizard casting a magical spell.

(spoilers)

Granted it is a sci-fi novel, but I did not care for how humanity's probes are able to spread across the galaxy for generations before ultimately being absorbed by the already established super entity. Said super entity which has been already been manipulating Earth for billions of years. Somehow, humanity's first generation probe is able to slip under the radar of the ancient, highly evolved, intelligence?