Hi, Robb.
The neutral safety switch is not the problem. It is concerned with ensuring that the starter won't engage unless you're in neutral or park. As I understand it, you haven't experienced this device's failure, such as not cranking in neutral or park.

You stated your problem as, "...I have to depress the shiftlock release everytime to shift out of park...."
This is another system, not part of the neutral safety switch, that is involved here. It is called the shiftlock, and it ensures that you cannot pull the shift out of park unless you are stepping on the brake pedal! But for you, it doesn't let you shift out of park even when you step on the brakes. Isn't that your problem?
This system is on the later cars (like the '93 that we both have). It requires a good signal (12 volts) from the brake pedal's switch to go to a solenoid that pulls a pin that frees the shifter to move. If you have a blown fuse (brake lights) or other electrical problem, there is the override button (which you have already learned to use) to manage that pin in lieu of the solenoids action.

Anyway, this is an entirely separate system from the neutral safety switch. There are several components (including a microswitch) along with the brake switch and solenoid that I've mentioned. You should check them out, using a VOM (as a beginning) to see what's happening. You can pry up the cover plate and watch the mechanism to see what it does when you just step on the brake pedal -- look at the forward area of the shift gate to see a piece move -- and if nothing happens, you've got a clue that the electrical signal from the brake switch isn't getting to the solenoid, or the solenoid is bad, or ....

I've got the same system in my cars, too. Good luck.