do NT's use body language

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ALL the time like while just walking down the street or only while their talking?

Yes, technically, NTs use body language all the time, even aspies do, albeit they might not be aware of the signals they're sending.

You can imagine a person's mental state by the way they walk, sit, carry themselves, etc.

It's second nature to them. Unfortunately, it leads to a lot of false readings for them when they try to read one of us. Not that we're completely incoherent, just that we tend to give off a lot of unintended messages since it isn't second nature to us.

Yes all the time and we don't even realize it. I read what you wear and how you keep yourself tells people about you. If you see a person and they are dirty, have on holy clothes, bad teeth, unbrushed hair, they smell, yes that is reading body language when you make a judgment about it. What would it tell you about this person?

I think so. It can lead to a lot of false assumptions, though, which is frustrating.

As an NT I can say yes. It's like animal planet. The men posture and walk "manly" and the women act all sexy (shaking hips while walking ) or shy( looking down twirling hair). Have you ever seen a gangster walk like a penguin with a fake limp? The phrase people watching implies watching body language. However you don't always need to pay attention to these things. Who cares if some guy is acting macho. It's in conversations that you need to be aware of these things. One way to practice would be to people watch. Very similar to watching animal planet.

People use body language and expressions that are often so subtle that only an expert can understand them, like "Lie To Me" or something like that. Almost right after we're born society tries to make us conceal or deny our true feelings about all kinds of things and "train" us how to act. But those feelings nearly always "leak out". Such a thing seems to have been lost on me, however, since I have a nearly impossible time concealing my feelings. Also when I'm daydreaming or deep in thought my expressions and body language start to act out the emotions conjured up by such things so I may look angry one second and happy the next. I have something of a photographic memory and can recall events or things I've seen almost as if they just happened minutes ago, and the emotions that go with them often rise to the surface, too.

they (generally) don't "use it" as in a conscious activity, it's not a language like english or spanish or even deaf signing. rather, the mental state is subconsciously expressed through posture and facial expression, often quite subtle. and the observers response to it is usually subconscious as well.

but it can also be performed; actors, politicians, and especially advertisers do indeed "use it" as a tool to elicit specific responses from their audience.

I would say yes, it is done all the time. However, it is not something logical and purposeful that neurotypicals do. A neurotypical does not say "I will cross my arms so that those around me can see that I am uncomfortable." That would be logical and intentional. Instead, it's something that just happens without any thought. Their arms just end up crossed when they're uncomfortable. Here's an easier example. When you are sad, do you say, "I'm going to cry now. 1, 2, 3, CRY" or do you just end up crying?

There are some exceptions to this. It is possible for an NT to purposefully change their body language. An NT in an interview may sit up very straight to show they are attentive and confident. Or an NT cashier may put on a smile so that they look welcoming to customers. Would an NT call this body language? Probably not because the concept of body language is not something they really have to think about. The average person would know not to slouch in an interview or to smile at customers without reading a body language handbook. And a tricky NT may be able to cry on cue, so they start crying to elicit pity or forgiveness from someone.

I realized that I hardly ever smile back at someone if I don't actually feel like smiling. Most people seem to smile immediately if someone else (e.g. a coworker) smiles at them. I take note of the person smiling, but it never dawns on me that maybe that's my cue to start smiling. Nor do I "naturally" feel like smiling. I've been told I look sad, angry, like I'm going to kill someone, like I want to fight somebody, etc....And even after all that it's still very hard for me to remember to smile in public. If anything, I just don't get why people would be so concerned with what my facial expression looks like.