it seems like there should be a way for individuals to mine nmc using their own computer without merge mining.
You do know that Namecoin's sidechain design doesn't care if the parent block is actually a real thing, right? Like, you can just make up a totally fictitious parent block and use that to mine if you don't want to use a real parent chain.
So if nmc added a staking mechanism it would both incentivize individual mining and prep people for the final descent into Orwellian hell.
PoS is already covered in our FAQ.