A;right, let's hope it doesn't glitch and delete my comment again
@Ramses
fair enough.
Damn that opens like 4 different plot holes, but I'll take the L on that. Tho I will say that it wasn't so much a theory (MatPat style), but just a missinterpretation of what was happening as I watched through. However, there are still examples of us Seeing active Counter Gaurdians
That quote says the Counter Force itself is mindless, which I agree on, but the summoned Guardians are very clearly not mindless, as we have seen.
EMIYA's back story shows he is very much concious, far from Mindless. First off, he has memories of his time acting as a counter guardian. If he was mindless, then we would have none. He says he chose to Obey his orders, which means he could have chosen not to. He had a concious at first, and only stopped caring about killing after killing many times. A mindless being has no consience. He has enough mind to think about philosophy, change his world view, and develop his ideals.
Mindless beings don't do philosphy. Archer does imply that their summoning and missions are automatic, but he himself is concious.
I really don't understand were you are coming from when you say we have never seen an active Counter Gaurdian. Assassin EMIYA has been seen active and concsious in Grand Order. He is stated to be mostly void of most emotions, but its implied he is the exception not the rule. Even so, he shows a complecated love for his kids, and an attraction and love for his wife, even if he does not understand why. He shows intention, personal intentions that a mindless being would not have, such as taking a less efficient path to protecting humanity just so he can avoid killing Iris.