I just saw BR2049 and the most absurd part of the premise was finding the remains of Rachel's bones? how can a robot have bones and skulls ?
Same thing happened to me and that's how I realized my understanding of a replicant was wrong, they are not robots but literally manufactured humans, in other words, they are biological.
shareThe beginning text of BR (1982) says: "THE TYRELL CORPORATION advanced Robot evolution into the NEXUS phase - a being virtually identical to a human - known as a Replicant...". And it goes on to say they are genetically engineered.
In other words; they are biological engineered "robots", meaning that they are biologically just like humans.
This is also why Deckard back in the day needed that eye-analyser gizmo to figure our if it was human or not. Had it metal bones or other obvious dissimilitudes it would be much easier to find them.
It was't, hence the Blade Runner initiative.
The difference is that they are produced for a purpose of lets say mining or something. Unlike a human, who is born and has a clean slate, so to speak.
This is also why there seem to be this idea that humans have souls because they were born... and so the larger story is essentially questioning if there is any real difference? The issue is not whether or not they are human, but what it means to be human. Humanity is defined by consciousness and not intentions of a supposed creator. This, I think, is the essence of the story.