That's reassuring to hear, because for me single player also felt inferior.
Personally, I like that all 4 party members can talk to NPCs. However for me there are still a few problems that a simple addition of companion AI won't solve.
1. Currently NPC have no memory. If I talk with them with a different party member they'll just repeat the same dialog.
Example: I can talk with Withermoore with 4 different party members 4 times. Each time he has no idea how many years have passed even though a different companion just told him a few seconds ago.
That might be good in mp where you need to make sure each player has the information about quests. But in sp that's immersion breaking. NPC should remember I already talked to them with a different companion and give their introductory dialogs only once.
2. All NPC interact not with a party but only with a character who's talking to them.
Example: Lohse's dwarf friend. If I talk with him using anybody exept Lohse he doesn't notice her even if she stays right there. Then he suddenly recognizes her when I switch to Lohse.
Another example: when Gavin asks if I'm alone I can say yes even if there are 3 companions behind and he'll instantly believe it.
3. Companions themselves don't interfere when they realistically should.
Example: Sebille is about to kill Stingtail. Red Prince is quietly watching.
Now this one I don't understand at all because an ability to interfere other players dialogs without throwing fire grenades in them would benefit coop as well.
4. Companions automatically join combat even when just one party member is attacked.
Example: Lohse is possessed and tries to kill Sahelia and everybody else in the cave. Others willingly help her.
This one I don't understand as well because in coop people don't necessarily want to join other players combat. So again solving this issue would benefit both sp and mp.
