Then why are there NPC oppos? Why do you get missions to massacre the oppo NPCs? Surely if there was NEVER supposed to be NPCs, as you claim, in PP, why did they spend so much developer effort in making missions for PP factions that include NPCs as the target???
Because they add powerplay to solo, and presumably felt AI would be up to the task of providing the direct action? I kinda think at this point the options are leave the mechanics in a failed state so commanders can bask in the glory of successful stopping the developer, who will just move on to the next thing. Which will probably also then be blocked. Or maybe consider if that's not pointing a gun at feet.
I guess it depends on whether it means more to improve the game, or to win an argument?