working through this new patch:
most merchant spots are seemingly fixed, but i still have two hairdressers at the same time.
things seem to be working out better in the strip club, but multiple people still get caught on the stripper poles. also had one NPC "halfway stuck" on one of the sex spots on the side of the stage - their bottom half was stuck, but their top half was in the walk cycle.
i think the NPC is getting pushed slightly inside the geometry of the stage.
the payout from prostitution is still wildly variable, and averaging 12-20 bc, with all upgrades. payouts in the 100-200 range have happened, but not very often.
i have identified the main problem with NPCs keeping schedules: NPCs only fully process while they are within render range. as an example, most of the population was pregnant. it took me two or three days to get over the vendor alley. when i first went there, almost everyone left to go visit the doctor. a huge crowd had to visit her at the same time. also, the vendors near the strip club do not have beds in range, so to get them to come back you have to get within range of their bed, let them sleep, wait for them to decide to go on shift again, and follow them back to their station.
all decorations and lighting for the second floor of the strip club are occluded at the top of the stairs, leaving nothing but mattresses and bare geometry. the player apartment does not seem to be affected, though.
i'll be testing out the army route in the coming days.