That was a seriously interesting and slightly surreal read. It really reminded me of something I read before, not quite sure what though. I am pretty sure that the setting reminds me of METAtropolis. 
 Edit: 
 I just talked to Kowal on Twitter and the story is a heavily reworked version a story in Metatropolis. So no wonder it was darn familiar, but that I couldn't recognize it. 
 Anyway, loved it then, and loved it this time around