I think this is a rare case where “it was all a dream” is fine

My headcanon is that Q shifted Picard to an alternate quantum reality. Like what happened to Worf that one time.

Q has made little pocket realities before that don't seem to affect the rest of the universe.

So like the episode of TNG titled "Lower Decks" and not the series titled "Lower Decks?"

I just want to see how happy and relaxed Ensign Picard is. No critical decisions to make. Able to make friends among the crew without his rank getting in the way.

We get to see Captain Picard in Ensign Picard's body, but we never get to see the slacker who has big dreams but doesn't bother to push himself.

ensign picard is the nurse who died on a starship voyager commanded by captain harry kim

It reads like a Chief O’Brien at Work strip. Except he wouldn’t say “hey what the fuck” because he would just be so sad he couldn’t speak.

6x15 Tapestry

Hehe Kurt Russel as the lead in vanilla sky? I'd watch it.

All other people are NPCs from the perspective of one person. That's what "non-player character" means.

You're the player in your own mind, aren't you? That makes the rest of us NPCs.

I just don't see how someone else's perspective of my autonomy should cause such a crisis in me.

And it works.