Methane and water form complexes called clathrates. The earthly versions of these are more water than methane, but god only knows what odd versions form under Titanian conditions. In a sea of methane, they might serve to mobilize water for chemical reactions, even at very low temperatures.
There’s the alternative hypothesis that says that life here developed near thermal vents deep within our oceans, which is why Europa is so fascinating to me.
Titan’s atmosphere is yellow, so it’s tough to say just how yellow the surface actually is. Yellow is very much the default color for organic reactions run amok, so it doesn’t necessarily signify the presence of sulfur.
Here’s a bit on what Huygens found in the atmosphere:
Why involve water at all? If the organic chemicals are soluble in liquid methane, then surely no water is required?
Earthly bias. We know it works with water, so having water, or ice, on Titan allows us to speculate from a point that isn’t completely unknown.
Within our oceans or even deep within our planetary crust. We’re finding bacteria almost everywhere, and it’s thought that it may well be that the near majority of bacteria, and hence ALL LIFE ON EARTH (measured whether in biomass or individuals) may be miles beneath the surface of the planet in hot vents and cracks, making our bias for doings on the surface very misleading indeed.
Regarding the methane for water substitution hypothesis: Could someone explain why Titan’s (average?) temperature being close to methane’s “triple point” is important? My impression is that it’s something to do with being able to find solid,liquid & airborne methane. I am also of the understanding that Earth’s average temp (15 C) is the triple point of water.