Dear Gary,
Thank you for taking the time to read my essay and for your detailed comments.
As regards the points you have raised, you are correct, hydrogen as a gas is diatomic and my simplified example does not make that distinction. Secondly, I also agree with you that in order for Maxwell's Demon to do its job within a reasonable amount of time given the situation we have described above, it would have to do net-effect accounting on a large number of interchanging "gas particles". The third point you raised is more tricky. I can imagine a mechanical device, computer controlled, that would be able to do the job of the Demon. In the context of this essay contest, this device would operate under the whim and fancy of someone who would like to arrange this physical situation for their benefit - i.e.: act with intent. But whether Maxwell's Demon as a creator of a thermal gradient, needs to be alive, does not seem to be the case. Though it would certainly be required to adhere to conservation laws and as such would leave a thermodynamic signature. I wonder if I have answered this satisfactorily?
And finally, consciousness remains mysterious to us for the time being, as does the measurement problem. I dully note your caution, in the absence of evidence, not to take two mysteries and compound them into one.
Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful comments, they are much appreciate.
Regards
Robert