If it doesn't happen, then it might indicate these other essential professions are nowhere near essential in context of fantasy (porn) game. At least compared to blacksmiths and village chiefs.The same argument could be made of any essential profession, and yet it doesn't happen. And even if I were to accept that premise, it's not necessary to make these characters NPCs instead of assuming that there's one in the background.
Now, you're right they are not necessary per se, and often could be reduced to just a mention and/or background noise. But i don't think it's something that'd actually improve the game. Like it or not, a blacksmith is a "natural" sort of contact for a band of adventurers, so not being able to interact with one is going to be felt more acutely as a drawback, than having one who is a walking trope would be (and of course, there's no reason for them to be a walking trope in the first place, unless that's something you're intentionally going for)
My (admittedly, vague after a few months since i've played the game last time) impression/memory of the Winter City is that it's a dead-empty little square where nothing happens attached to a big-ass palace with three people spaced across dozen+ locations where, between few quests, also nothing happens.Bars and shops, and shops and bars, and bars and shops, and shops and bars, and a weapons dealer. On the other hand, we have Alypia with her tours of the winter city which showcase the boreal elves and their lives far more efficiently than just another bunch of bars and shops.
Since you mention it, i think there was some sort of a (brief) walk with the elf princess i had through it at some point in one quest? So, not to diss Alypia's hard work, but considering i have zero real memory of it, i'd have to conclude that the effectiveness of this sort of approach as a way to showcase settlements and their inhabitants is vastly lower than what you rate it at. Having an occasional and special "tour" through a place which is every other day of the year presented as completely deserted and dead does very little to alleviate this permanent picture.