Religion hasn't died out in this setting, although it's uncommon in Key's society specifically. Religion was a factor in historical opposition to anesthesia (I'm not sure of the role it plays in modern leeriness about painkillers during childbirth) but bringing it up in more detail would have added a dimension to the story I didn't think it needed.

Reflexes are intact. The neuro just translates the qualium into a bare awareness that damage has occurred. (I don't know about everyone, but if I accidentally poke a hot burner on the stove, my hand is a foot away before I consciously register any pain. The neuro doesn't interfere with that.)

I will check the links and see about fixing them; if necessary, I'll HTMLify those stories too. ETA: Fixed; they should be downloadable now.