Polymerase can only amplify the population of RNA molecules. So, the population of RNA molecules would become of a population consisting of most rapid molecules for replication and then further evolution will struggle. Thus, connection of CCSI with CMIO is essential process to escape from such a non-living state.
line 554 - The case that two genes were essential initially is not made. Can we not have an RNA polymerase that uses other copies of itself as a template? If chemistry supplies monomers, then only one gene is necessary. The input and output would not necessarily need to be controlled by another gene. It would seem difficult to evolve two separate ribozyme functions at the same time.