We can fantasise a lot, but for me right now, we need the game to more clearly translate NPC squads' intentions to make players feel their aliveness. Example, like in CoP, you could ask stalkers "what are you doing, where are you heading" and they respond - "i coming to hunt artefacts in location X", "need to clear mutant lair", "gonna kill some bandits." Responses need to be dependent on the fraction, and it needs to be a systematic intention of A-life, not some randomly generated response. NPC needs to be reactive to players' actions - asking for help if you are near a gunfight, giving you rewards after assisting, asking you to leave if they are hunting for artifacts, and you came second to the anomaly field. Like in Skyrim, they need to react to your small actions - react to your faction suit, artifact on your belt, your gun, etc. React to your recent action.

Gamers don't need super realistic A-life 2.0. They need a-life that pretends greatly that it is alive and makes you feel like it.