Oh my goodness I've just learned a thing about The Matrix that causes it to make a lot more sense: In the original script the humans were used as neural network compute clusters by the Machines and as a crucial component of The Matrix itself.
Which is why humans who were aware of the simulation could control aspects of The Matrix - their minds were part of its foundation.
Unfortunately the test audiences had trouble understanding this concept so the studio changed the human role to "batteries".
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That makes much more sense, the idea of humans as batteries is ridiculous.
@ScottSoCal @polychrome also makes more sense for why if you died in the matrix your irl body died, because part of your brain would die in the matrix simulation when your Sim self died. Maybe it's irreparably damaged IRL