One of the things I wish I can do on the NS/Stick is to have the "X" fret and tap the open string.
Have other NS/Stick players wished they can do this?

I have been experimenting with this by drop tuning my NS/Stick by 1/2 step and have been enjoying it.

However...
A great thing about the NS/Stick is being able to play the open string as well so a standard X fret would take this away.
So maybe Emmett can invent a system where the dampener is always on in the X fret just like a stick and can engage a nut at the X fret for open string playing. It's kind of a reverse of the retractable dampener but giving the option to tap the open string...

Any thoughts?

The first thought to hit my mind was to remove the standard damper, and replace it with an external damper that could perhaps be engaged by a lever (or maybe the damper would have its own locking, spring-loaded action without the need for a separate lever), flipping it down on top of the strings. That might get rid of the need for an X-fret.

The NS has a damper which retracts and you can use the instrument as an open string. But the NS does not have a way to tap the open note other than drop tuning by 1/2 note.
But if I drop tune and retract the damper the open note is 1/2 step lower than the traditional "open string" (E,A,D,G).

Maybe something like a capo would work for this. X fret with Capo...
That will be one big capo...
Maybe some kind of soft rubber bar (like finger tips) across the top and pushed down with some kind of elastic... Hmmm...

I don't know how well it works, but Steinberger has a thing exactly as you describe. It's found on the trans scale synapse models

That is cool! That type of concept would work.

But... I got thinking and I thought maybe it would be nice to have the option to capo just the bass side or the whole thing. I don't think anyone would want just the bass side muted but there are all kinds so it would be good to have the option...

The Steinberger Stranscale Capo got me thinking of the Factor Bass by Kubicki where the E string can also become a D string by using the little lever that holds down the string or you move it out of the way to get two more frets.

That's very reminiscent of C extensions on upright basses. Where they have the little "fingers" that hold the open note at different pitches.

It's an interesting thought for sure.