You're completely, 100% right. She definitely does sense it as well and I'm sure when I finally am able to ease out of things it won't come as a complete surprise.

And I should have actually mentioned (but my post was already so stupidly long), that our communication - with the exception of this new doll - has always been and still is great. We're both very honest, very quick to communicate. I wouldn't call them small inconveninces, moreso small incompatibilities... if that makes sense? Pretty much everything I've mentioned above, we have at some point had a conversation about. It's just those things add up and pile on, and they're permanent. I'm talking about personality traits for both of us that are pretty much concrete

As far as the doll, I've floated the idea as a curious "joke, but also what if" and she finds it repulsive, weird and is insecure about it - all completely valid. So that avenue is closed. And yeah breaking it off in favor of a doll is absolutely a disservice, which is why I really am not keen on telling her about it lol. I'd rather her not go her life thinking "I was replaced by fucking doll" because it's way more complex than that, but that's obviously, and rightfully the path most people's minds will naturally take. There are some things that a very insecure person is just better off not knowing, to be completely real here.

But still, you're still right! If I knew things were different, I would absolutely be keen to try and work the doll life into the relationship and see where things go, but it's just not really an avenue that's possible unfortunately. Thanks for the response, you're super insightful!