I like the idea of rescuing knights from a threat (even if they are for some reason all in devilite-manufactured cages) and bringing along an AI for the adventure to be my wingman. I'm not asking for them to be able to even kill mobs for me, or to have more staying power (they have plenty, more than us meat-controlled knights could ever hope for).

I just want them to stop being so stupid.

I understand that the rescued knights use roughly the same AI system as a mecha-knight kit and that redoing it is a pain. But it honestly hurts my experience of fighting through hordes of undead in a Candlestick Keep, rescue the knight... and see that knight jump into a grimalkin's maw five times in a row, then slump over dead.

Some thing that could be improved upon, and I'm not sure how hard each would be but they'd help us feel less like anchors (I know we get credit even if they die but still):
-Stop shielding when friendly knights fire projectiles. I'll let mecha-knights pass on this as a malfunction, but it's silly how my allies deliberately block MY shots at something in front of them, but stare blankly as a howlitzer hits them between the eyes. Speaking of which...
-Start shielding at enemy projectiles. All the PC knights know how important a shield is against ranged foes (or else don't have long to live), why wouldn't they have some rudimentary skills at least?
-Follow the group. Every time, one person will go to a dangerous place to get a few treasure boxes. And every time, the rescued knight follows that person and usually gets thrashed. And not just when the lone wolf is the one who got them out.
-Have something that isn't a sword. I'd love to see a gun or bomb specialist as someone to help out, maybe not as common, but still there like most knights.

I'm sure others will have suggestions too, and I leave this open to them.