Clearly, we have insufficiently formalized what it means to be apolitical.

A few comments up I linked to the wikipedia definition to formalize my usage:

The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations.

I think I'm basically pretty much at antipathy. I have a negative and I think pretty justified attitude towards those trying to enthuse me for political affiliations as people trying to hijack my goals for their own purposes.

I always assumed that it meant following the relevant social norms of whatever society one finds oneself in, avoiding political argument, and taking a carefully crafted "neutral-stance" on political issues.

That is how I intended to use the word. Considering oneself neutral in the great tribal struggles of one's time, aids one in having a better map of reality. It also helps to avoid hijacking by predatory memes.

I certainly agree that if the non-involvement principle recommends against exercising laudable virtues, then the principle is a bad one.

I don't know why anyone would choose to describe this as the primary use of the word "apolitical".

Edit: I didn't mean to imply you did.