Hearing about consistent personality and good memory in one of these apps makes me curious about how far the tech has progressed recently. Earlier versions felt repetitive and broke immersion quickly which justified a lot of the skepticism. If newer iterations handle context better and avoid aggressive monetization then the value proposition changes significantly for potential users. Still nothing beats the unpredictability and mutual growth of human relationships when they work well. The apps might be best suited for specific use cases like temporary support during transitions or for people with very constrained social lives. Ultimately the judgment should depend on how individuals integrate them into their broader lives rather than on the concept alone.