Thanks for taking the time to write this out. It's definitely not overbearing and I appreciate your insights too!
I'm definitely the sort of person who likes programming in systems, so I can easily see myself getting sucked into months and months of making an AI/NPC system (or even trying to generalise it for future reuse) without actually making something that needs it.
In general, I think I'll try to take it in as small chunks as I can manage and develop it in its own little prototype in short bursts, and then over time, that should add up to a more complete understanding.
I'm lucky enough to have had some exposure to this in the past, so some of it won't be completely new, but equally, I've never fully developed something like that for my own projects and I'm looking forward to the challenge!
Thank you again for your thoughts and encouragement, and the best of luck with your own updates too!