Do non-bjd/non-resin dolls feel "fake" to you?

It is definitely not the same anymore. I used to collect porcelain dolls and Barbies but after getting into BJDs it isn't the same. One, porcelain dolls just don't survive. After moving so many times, a lot of my porcelain dolls' faces have cracked or got crushed and there's not an easy way to replace them even the sentimental ones. Two, Barbies are still interesting to me but now I must weigh if buying a Barbie is worth over buying a BJD. Barbies still have a nostalgic place in my heart and I might be tempted to purchase a limited edition, adult collector quality one once in a while, but I seem to like the ones that are super LE/expensive. And if I didn't pre-order in time the secondhand market is insane for those LE Barbies I want. I'm tempted buy other dolls, like Gene dolls, but I don't know if I want to open up that rabbit hole as it kind of would go into whether I want to spend that money on an LE Barbie I really wanted or just wait and save up for a Volks doll I prefer. My finances are limited so I have to prioritize better.

I think "cheaper" non-BJD dolls have a place though. Like, I wouldn't allow my young nieces to play with any of my BJDs even though my resin (SDs) and vinyl (DDs) dollies might be able to survive. Hahaha. I know for sure my BJDs wouldn't come back the same after a playdate with my young nieces. I'm fine with giving my young nieces some basic Barbies and maybe whatever commercial toy dolls/action figures that are out there because those are cheap, easily accessible, replaceable, and most likely more interesting for my nieces. It's hard as I want to share this hobby with my nieces, but they are still too young to be careful yet. Plus, new toys that are available for kids nowadays are actually kind of fun so it is nice to diversify even if it is an excuse to buy things for my nieces.

 

Can relate so much!
I specifically collect Centaur BJD, but the Penny's Box centaurs are like a little treat.
They come with their little outfit, n face-up and they're just so cute ^-^
Like between working on the next doll in queue, I can just unbox an inexpensive fully finished ball-jointed doll, even if it is off-topic.
The Penny's Box dolls feel better than play-line brands for sure. Still noticeably ABS, but mighty good quality.
Also have a Monster High Avea Trotter, because centaur lol, and she's fun too cuz it's so easy to find clothing and 3d print accessories!

 

I do collect other dolls but I’m picky. Like I do have some Disney Designer Collection Dolls, but I didn’t buy the whole set for that release and I have some American Girl dolls, but I searched long and hard for the ones I wanted and bought ones that were made before Mattel bought the company (I prefer actual eyelashes on the dolls). My mom is the same way and also collects dolls too so I think a lot of it I just learned from her.

 

I love all dolls. I'm a doll collector, not just a bjd collector. Especially now where more and more dolls are coming out with articulation or even ball joints. There's so much variety out there. A doll doesn't need to be hundreds of dollars to be real, it doesn't need to be an abjd or made of resin. A corn husk doll is a doll. I think the difference is that some people like dolls and some are just into bjds. Does that make sense? Some people like figures and some people just like gundam or warhammer.

 

I don't know about "fake." They certainly feel different. Lighter, since the other plastics used aren't nearly as heavy as resin. But I love a wide variety of dolls, and BJDs are just some of them.

 

BJDs are my "default" dolls so to speak, the ones I turn to first when it comes to collecting and playing. The posability and customizability are tough to find anywhere else. That said, I still have a soft spot for other types of dolls, even if I have little to no desire to own them myself.

As I type this, I'm looking across the room at an OOAK rag doll I've had since I was 10. She is nothing like a BJD, but is still precious to me. Being a handmade doll, I say she too has her own kind of artistry.