[yobbo]

> that counts as outcompeting

Consider Neanderthals had more sparse populations due to being adapted to colder climates.

In periods over the millenia, mixed groups could have lived without being aware of being mixed at all. Groups with 50% heritage or more could have been small compared to the growth of modern human populations elsewhere, which would eventually blend.

Over 100 generations, this 2% heritage could be accounted for by a growth-rate difference of only around 5% vs 9-10%, which is just above replacement level and this difference wouldn't have been noticeable to each generation.

If one population had growth spurts and doubled over a generation, then much faster.

[prepend]

This would be valid if there were still populations with significant Neanderthal dna. But there aren’t.

Also, population growth also counts as outcompeting. If after thousands of years there’s only Homo sapiens and no Neanderthals, then that makes the point. Homo sapien genes won out.