luzr, in Consider Phlebas, the term "Sublimed" is never used. It is implied that the Dra'Azon are simply much older than the Culture and hence more powerful - a very standard idiom in SF which makes no mention of deliberately refraining from progress at higher speeds. In Consider Phlebas, the Culture is implied to be advancing its technology as fast as possible in order to fight the war.

Julian, what in any possible reality would count as "something to do"?