I'm Getting Lost Trying To Follow Thanos' Plan

With regards to Infinity, I'm not sure I follow why the Avengers being off in space is such a big deal for Thanos. It isn't as if every hero on Earth went into space. Even as fragmented and distracted as the X-Men are these days, I'm pretty sure if Thanos shows up and starts killing and conquering, they'd get off their duffs and do something. I suppose Thanos could be completely unconcerned about them, which is fair. Thanos is a powerhouse on his lonesome. With an entire army at his disposal, the X-Men might be little more than a speed bump (I vote Cyclops for first speed bump!). If that's the case, do the Avengers shift the balance much?

Gavok had some speculation that filled in some blanks for me. Thanos is out to eliminate all the kids he fathered during a wild period Jason Aaron tossed into that Thanos Rising mini-series*. If that's the case, I don't entirely understand invading Earth. The Builders are on their way there already, right? They've thus far appeared to be an unstoppable force. If he has a kid that's part Inhuman somewhere near Earth, then the Builders will take care of said kid in the course of their work.

He could be banking on the very thing all his subordinates were warning him of: Things go badly wrong when you mess with Earth. So the Builders are doomed to failure because Earth is the best, meaning Thanos has nothing to worry about from that direction. Of course, that means he does have to worry about the Avengers when they come home, but if all he's after is to kill every person on Earth between a set age range, and then leaves, it might be doable. Leaving aside the issue of the Avengers trying to hunt him down and bring him to justice. By that point, he can pick the battlefield.

But it sounds like he's just as interested in conquering the planet. If he works fast, maybe he can establish defenses to have waiting for the Avengers. The conquest could be him blowing smoke to his lackeys. Conquest would offer an opportunity for looting and plunder. I don't know whether they're true believers in Thanos, or they work for him because it's better than dying at his hands.

Ultimately, I think Earth's best bet is to start a rumor Adam Warlock is hanging out there. Things never go well for Thanos when that guy's is around. Even setting aside the constant thwarting of Thanos' plans, you have to deal with Warlock's know-it-all, holier-than-thou attitude. I guess Thanos could just kill him (or at least punch him in the face), but Warlock has less success at staying dead than Thanos himself.

* I'm not sure how I feel about that addition to his history. I suppose it would depend on his motivations. What was he hoping for with children, and why is he killing them now? Were the kids some attempt to deny his connection or interest to death? Children as a form of immortality, or simply creating life as the opposite of ending it? Then when he embraces Death later, he decides the best way to prove it is to kill his own offspring. Or maybe he wanted a willing acolyte, one he could mold into an engine of death, the way he did to Gamora.