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So... I know this is sorta off topic from the Ark-0 stuff, but I recently saw the Project Thouser special, and since I probably shouldn't post my ramblings about it in the episode discussion. I'm posting it here:
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Overall I thought the special was fine. It was mostly reused footage, but it did re-contextualize a lot of the early episodes and answered several questions.

Disclaimer: This is only my brief summary that lacks a lot of other important details.

Gai's primary motivation was always about "the money".
-Remember his whole "Humanity First" shtick from the competition arc? That was actually just a mere symptom of his "Everything and Everyone is a Dōgu(Tool) to be used as I see fit!" mindset. Humagears or rather AI in general just happen to fall under his umbrella term of "things".

In reality Gai actually views other humans as tools too.
-Fuwa was specifically assigned to become KR Vulcan because his recklessness would only speed up the process of gathering data on the ProgRise Keys for ZAIA. Gai even instructed Yua to give Fuwa the Punching Kong key because he knew Fuwa would try to use it immediately. (This leads into the events of episode 4 where Yua hands Fuwa the Punching Kong key at Daybreak town)

Naki's character arc, which was quickly wrapped up in episode 32, actually begins here in this blu-ray special.
-Naki, was a weapons developer humagear, who was recovered by ZAIA after the Daybreak incident. They originally obeyed Gai completely, however Horobi's talk of revolting against the human tyrants began make Naki question who they really were.
-Naki was also the one to inform Horobi of the Gigar units (those giant mech things that look like Breaking Mammoth), and gave him the Amazing Hercules key. (This is why Horobi suddenly decides to target the exact AIMS facility where they were producing the Gigar units in episode 8, as well as how he randomly got the Amazing Hercules key)
-Naki's original body was damaged after Gai shot Naki (with an actual gun) for going against "the plan" and informing Horobi of the Gigar units. Immediately afterwards, Yua informs Gai of Fuwa's extensive injuries from a battle with Horobi. (also episode 8) This is likely when Gai has Naki implanted into Fuwa's head.

TLDR: Lots of critical plot stuff that got cut out, but narrative-wise I can sorta see why they did it as the information only really becomes critical to the plot when Gai and ZAIA formally take center stage after the MetsuBoJinRai arc.