This will make sure anyone who becomes your follower will able to die in battle, at your hands, or with the kill command without having to set bEssentialTakeNoDamage=0. Should work with any NPC mod that uses the standard follower script. Extensible Follower Framework version available (overwrite EFF files).

Followers can still be set to essential using the EFF menus.

Bonus feature: If your follower is equipped with non-default armor and you dismiss them without taking it back, the next time you go to hire them, they will immediately re-equip it. (No having to wait until you change locations or trade.)

1.1 - Small update, changed the item used to force re-equipping because the bandit hat was obvious and looked retarded.

NOTE: Only compatible with the "compatible" EFF version. Otherwise, won't have any effect on those NPCs.