Given the statistical ambiguities inherent in quantum events, could the probabilistic nature of those events (cf. Feynman's path integral[3]) indicate the presence of speculative execution[2] on the part of computing core(s) running such a simulation?
Obviously, this is highly speculative and would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to prove, but it's an interesting question worthy (IMHO) of discussion.
Any thoughts? Other ideas? Well reasoned rejections of such a hypothesis?
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function_collapse
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_execution
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_integral_formulation
It's not unheard of that a seemingly metaphysical question can be made testable with some ingenuity. Local realism is a great example: Local realism used to be subject to metaphysical debate, but since the 60's the Bell inequalities demonstrate a contradiction between practically testable predictions of the quantum theory and local realism. These days empirically measured Bell inequality violations are standard stuff that appear in physics journals (see e.g. [1]).
Unless we get something we can measure, the simulation theory has no better basis than the existence of an invisible pink unicorn whose job is to produce the quantum effects by disturbing our lab equipment.