I feel a very similar way, although I wouldn't say I believe in solopsism. I understand that there are other minds, but I feel a a though their personalities are forced, it's a big social act that I can't keep up with.

I do sometimes get the idea like you said that people are kind of like puppets, sometimes I think that situations and people are placed as a kind of test. I never really think this very often though.

The empathy is intense, often I can guess how a person feels about a situation, or I can guess what type of family and upbringing they had based off the way they carry themselves.