NPCs are not soulless automatons

NPCs are egregore-controlled humans, they still have an independent mind but their mind is enslaved and used as a tool for expressing the egregore mind, like a two-way radio channel.
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egregore
Its possible to disrupt the link to egregore by subversive thought insertion(aka memes), allowing the original mind to assert its will and independent thought. The egregore can't focus on multiple mental challenges simultaneously and the "radio channel" has limited capacity.
NPCs can be reformed to PCs.

>>74

expending significant effort on thinking about own thinking is a classic symptom of schizoid

Without meta-reflection/self-reflection/introspection i would feel handicapped.
Its impossible not to do thinking about my own mind or quality of my thoughts. Its basic sentience stuff for me and I won't want to live be without it. The idea "i expend all my mental effort" at meta-conscious activities is absurd, it just a mode of thought like e.g. analysis or contemplation, that can be interspersed with other mental activities.
NPCs can think whatever way they like - "normal thinking" seems very limited.
If the normal NPC behavior is the standard, the medical industry will try to fix the "PCs" into NPC vegetables and diagnose imaginary "Non-NPC Thinking Syndromes".