Your plastic pal that's fun to be with...
A couple of things have crossed my mind lately about the relationship between humans and AnPC's. I kind of get the impression that when a nascent AI is booted into a chassis for the first time, there's a sort of imprinting that goes on, like with waterfowl, only not as strong. "OOh, a human wants me! My first human! Lets see what it's like...". And out of curiosity (and maybe entertainment value in Pintsize's case), they watch and study, and learn to care, not just for, but about us. I imagine they watch us sleep, wondering about our dreams, worried if that snore will become apnea, ending the relationship/study too soon. They learn what makes us happy (or sad), and view our happiness as a reward, a measure of themselves. It's close to love, but isn't quite, and can easily run amok like Pintsize. But it's real, and very much like love, perhaps closer than what a lot of (self interested) people can give you. It's not slavery or ownership, although maybe there's a bit of Stockholm syndrome going on.
I know, this should be in the "do robots love?" thread, but it's getting hard to distinguish the two.
@QCfan, Angus is one of the best friends Marigold's had before Hannelore came along. He treated her with respect, and is trying to get her to see herself with some. Reread the pre-party comics again, please.