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.
A long time ago I tried to mine coins, but never succeeded except simple staking coins. Any time you start a question to me with "You do know..." and end it with "right?"... the answer is likely no.
My point was that if people use their hashing power to mine both btc and nmc then you probably have some heavyweights using computing power that an individual cannot compete with realistically.
Some coins use to split algorithms e.g. huc, xmy, dgb etc to force some fairness in mining and add security, but maybe the heavyweight miners i.e., btc merge miners adds something too, maybe security.
From nmc's website
Why doesn’t Namecoin use “proof of stake”?
We defer to the analysis of Bitcoin developer Andrew Poelstra about the security problems with PoS. For a more accessible summary, Namecoin developer Yanmaani’s article on PoS may be of interest.
So, yes you are right.
My main interest in namecoin, aside from making money, is simply that it has an extremely important real use case.
There are many hidden globalizing influences in the economy, and small networks of internets with attached economies is one push in a better direction.