That is how Star Trek replicators worked. They went both ways. You say “catfish po’ boy with extra chuckle”, and it produces a sandwich on a plate. You eat the sandwich, and then place the dirty plate right back into the replicator to be recycled. The plate, along with any remaining food crumbs, sauce, etc. get converted back into energy, ready for the next thing you replicate.
That is how Star Trek replicators worked. They went both ways. You say “catfish po’ boy with extra chuckle”, and it produces a sandwich on a plate. You eat the sandwich, and then place the dirty plate right back into the replicator to be recycled. The plate, along with any remaining food crumbs, sauce, etc. get converted back into energy, ready for the next thing you replicate.
Sure. I just find it amusing that while we can’t build a replicator, we can build a shitty unreplicator.