What is the reason for these NPCs? Why does having NPCs that are mounted is so important, while having an NPC ldesced as mounted is a big no no. What exactly are we trying to achieve?
Realism, loot, targets for RP, the scaffolding for cycling traders, soldier unit, grebbers, raiders, hunters, randos, to name a few...
I will concede that changing the ldesc or mdesc is an option, but a poor one. It's like those NPC guard units where if you fight them theres no threat and no reward because they obviously don't drop equipment they don't have. Among other reasons why fighting them is boring and pointless.
I don't know why you have such an interest in making one of these types of fake NPCs and just handwaving it. If all we're gonna do is make ldesc'd NPCs then let's just not, I'd say. It's a poor solution in my opinion.
Unrelated: does anyone else feel they're getting "russian botted" with weird stances lately? Maybe I'm finally going crazy, but I'm waiting on one of the mods to notice this thread now and moderate me for arguing my points, all the while calling it trolling.