A common police trick is to twist someone's arm until it's in danger of dislocated so they panic and struggle, which gives them the excuse to use even more force and/or another charge (especially if they didn't have a good reason to arrest them in the first place).
I don't know what you're basing this on. I've worked at rural school districts and they get Fox news just as easily as any Frat-bro. And they are more likely to be able to storm school boards.
It makes it optional whether or not to pay you for your labor, which works out to a "not an asshole tax" where nice customers subsidize both the business and people who don't tip. It also creates artificial class divisions between service workers. Why is a barista getting a 15% bonus while a 7-11 clerk isn't? (Hint: look at the demographics of each)
Yea, the ai Summons are spirit ashes. I totally used spirit ashes, but there are plenty of folks who don't. It's pretty tough but if you've been successful in other souls games you'll be fine. The insane detail and thought put into world design is the best part for me, so didn't see a reason not to use spirit ashes.
I've never done any soulsborne with co-op and I think Elden Ring is one of the best games I've ever played. Can't recommend highly enough. When you say summons do you mean spirit ashes?
This song's going somewhere, baby. Somewhere with an accordion and a perm.