The important question to ask is: What is a role?
For me, it's the character you've been assigned in the game -- whether that is the cop or ensemble cast member. Remember the nameless Star Trek ensigns? They were still Ensign #1 or whatever. That's the VT for me. Same with the nameless bad guys who die around the big boss.
When I send out a role PM, I'm saying "here, this is the part I've assigned you" and am asking you to play it. That's your role in this game. I've thought of "townie" as a role, and up to now, Vanilla Townie has been a role in and of itself. After these discussions, I'm thinking it's a role with a modifier.
I'd like for us to settle in "townie" and "goon" as base roles one can be assigned in a game. Theoretically, we can have Mafia Townies and Town Goons if we want -- but I don't want, and none of us has to use those combinations.