I thought I was being pretty clear but I’ll spell it out: If some system reacts to a situation it “experiences” it at some rudimentary level. Hence the idea that simple game AI’s like pac man ghosts count for the first incomplete definition of sentience.

You’re right that this requires you to believe that a system is actually reacting to something instead of everything just being a figment of your imagination, but you said you already make that assumption so what’s the issue?