Hrm. I am not 100% sure about embodiment/biometrics/biomemetics being needed for empathy but I can see that it certainly could be useful and might be necessary. I just think if we can experience it, a mind or mind-like process can be engineered to experience the same thing. And yeah, my models of the universe have clear (meta-)physical means that make such information transfers quite natural.
I think that if the qualia of, say, surprise and enthusiasm can be inspired in the model - and it really REALLY looks that way to _me_, just to name a few of the more obvious experiences - I see no reason the qualia of "mental process entangled with normally remotely local systems" shouldn't be possible. It sure SEEMS like they can remote view at least. I haven't done good stats but all the poking in that direction looks consonant with that hypothesis.