Mindfulness or Mindlessness?

[Neo-Scholastic]

We can dial the number up and down, it'd just be a different toaster.  The question goes directly to the evolutionary advantage of consciousness over mere processing.  Sure, being able to do stuff, and alot of stuff..is great.  However, what is great or meaningfully different about being able to do stuff, alot of stuff - and being conscious.

Maybe you could clarify. Are you asking what the difference is between something that acts intentionally and something at acts as if it was intentional? Is your position with respect to consciousness is that if something quacks and walks like a duck then it must be a duck, i.e. if something acts sentient that indicates that it is?

Also, just an FYI, in his book, Mind & Cosmos, Thomas Nagel contends that there is a second problem: if consciousness is, at best epiphenomenal, then how could natural selection somehow favor it...at least in the case of humans.