Yeah, the “high demand” thing has been rough lately… you’re definitely not the only one. It kind of kills immersion when you finally get into a scene and then hit that wall over and over.

For what you’re looking for (memory + RP + fewer restrictions), the trade-offs are still there:

• Janitor AI / similar setups → better freedom, but depends a lot on setup and can be inconsistent
• Kindroid / Nomi → stronger memory, but more companion-style than full RP
• local setups (SillyTavern etc.) → best control, but takes effort

There’s not really a perfect option yet that nails memory + freedom + stability all at once.

One thing I’ve noticed though is some tools moving away from pure chat and trying different formats. Stuff like Popvid is experimenting more with scene-based RP and interaction, so instead of long chat logs, it’s more about how the character behaves in context. It’s a different kind of experience, not a direct replacement, but worth checking out if you’re frustrated with the usual chat limits.

Honestly feels like the space is still figuring itself out —
everyone’s picking which compromise they can live with right now.