Yes NPC's will most likely be put into the game, acording to notch they will be used for trading. NPC's were oringinally going to be put in 1.8 infact along with bosses, but Jeb was having a bit of troubles with them and held off for the 1.8 update.
I would enjoy to have human NPCs in villages to make it not that creepy making it alot like "millinaire" mod or however you spell it :blink.gif: :mellow.gif:
I'm working on a cool texturepack! You can check it out by clicking the above image!