Self-sustained Replication of an RNA Enzyme

Viruses are often suggested as a borderline case given their reliance on host cells to provide the machinery of replication for them. But viruses don't provide a viable intermediate in a situation where such replicative machinery does not already exist.TTFN,WK

You seem to be simply assuming that which is supposed to be under discussion. If RNA molecules can exist which show the capacity for imperfect self replication through autocatalysis then why are they unarguably "Not Life".TTFN,WK