But a civilization doesn't have to 'aim for' that. If you can create the first probe, it does the rest. The right question is, what are the chances that nobody in any civilization ever, thought to create that first probe?

If we can think of it (and here we are, thinking of it) then why wouldn't any other civilization contain a member that thinks of it? Because humans are the greatest smartest species in the galaxy? Now that would be a far-fetched idea.