I think it's kinda hypocritical of the Narrator to say that he shouldn't anthropomorphize TLQ

Because the thing Narrator did to a non-sentient cycle of life and death is exactly anthropomorphizing it into two beings with emotions whether he wanted it or not. And he wanted it in a way - he wanted this cold ignorant universe to hear him out so he did it. Being capable of understanding stuff around them is exactly the opposite of what TLQ and Shifty were before - process devoid of self-awareness. And that's what makes them worth anthropomorphizing, at least partially

Even the initial thing Narrator wanted from TLQ - blind obedience, still requires understanding of words and surroundings. Which are a features of anthropomorphizing. Calling TLQ a Hero and allowing him to interpret it is anthropomorphizing

I know their conversation in the end isn't really an argument since according to Narrator's plan it shouldn't have come to this but still. Narrator wanted TLQ to understand him as a mortal being which means dragging a god to a human level which then means anthropomorphizing. Narrator doesn't want to do it and yet does persistently

Throughout the game Narrator often ignores TLQ's emotions because he knows he isn't human but it doesn't change the fact TLQ now has them and it's Narrator's fault. So he at least should understand what he has done. But it seems to me he doesn't. Or I suppose he cares about the result much more than about the process (and that's what makes him "not a real narrator" huh)

Btw I'm not sure but this Narrator's line about people being able to perceive things (and Echo's not) kinda implies that TLQ became close to "people" as class, cus all he does throughout the game is perceiving stuff. And he will apparently continue to do so as game says "you're free and you're aware". Like Narrator wants TLQ to be just human enough to complete the task but not human in a grand scheme of things. I'm interested in where exactly Narrator saw this boundary between human and not human

I think it's really good (and maybe even lucky) that Shifty was able to turn her newfound emotions inwards onto TLQ and eventually turn it into love. Because who knows what could happen if she understood these new features differently (considering TLQ for instance can coldly get rid of her)

Shifty found a balance between her emotions ("human" part) by turning them towards TLQ and her true essence (concept part) and in the end she is basically trying to explain TLQ how to do the same thing