I still think it's mind control because a) Richard is batshit crazy and b) no one resists. There's not even a hint of resistance except from Motorcycle Guy and maybe Richter, and "threatening" people on the phone doesn't quite jive with people becoming psychopathic killers on command to me. Seriously, what does Richard care what they do to him? His life is already seemingly in the gutter when they first contact him.
I mean, it's a justification but I think there's more to it than that. I'd have to replay the secret ending again but I recall seeing machinery and technology in the sewer. And it stretches credulity for me to think that their whole conspiracy works simply on threats. Besides, mind control is so much cooler than just plain 'ol fashioned coercion.
Bottomline though. Why was Richard so crazy? And not just disturbed but, like, reality-shredding insanity. Did the game creators just decide to cast a lunatic as their main character, thinking it would dovetail and confuse the story nicely? Or is he crazy for a reason that we can only infer from the game?
Also, I'm not that sure if the Ruso-American Coalition is supposed to be evil
The tone I got from the conversation with the 50 Blessings is that the Ruso-American conspiracy is evil because it undermines the fabric of American independence. That bit sounded every inch like all the screeds you hear from RL American conspiracy wonks and pseudo-militias. Plus, if this were really just about the Russian Gangs, there's be no need for most of the secrecy and manipulation. That to me is all clearly there to avoid the attention of American authorities.
I'm still not sure about Richter, though. He starts appearing near or instead of the shop clerks. He goes after you and then somehow gets caught by the police. I think it's even mentioned he didn't put up a fight. So he willingly gets caught by the police for some reason.
Maybe Richter thought he'd be safer in police custody than trying his luck disobeying the 50 Blessings. He didn't exactly seem like a willing participant.
I guess there's two distinct kinds of people working for 50 Blessings. Actual agents like Motorcycle Guy who didn't have to be coerced/manipulated/mind-fucked.....and then unwilling operatives who are part of the organization because of all three of those things.