I think the openmindedness essential for someone to fall in love with and accept a doll owner is the same depth of understanding and commitment needed to be the best partner possible. In my opinion, someone that wouldn't accept dolls is someone that wouldn't understand or accept me.
You cannot say better than that whisp! That sentence got me right to heart budy and you can relate it to anything else than dolls too.
I'm in the same situation than your ota, socialy and has a shopper for my first ''serious'' doll. It took me time to accept; I tried inflatable years ago and it didn't work at all for me. The look, the noise etc...And it didn't help the acceptance feeling either. But one thing I learn here on this forum, is the more care, love, clothing adventures you put into your doll(s), more acceptance is acting!? and then you can find fulfilment in the relation with the doll(s). So I'm searching for a quality doll, but took care before in reading about every models and always related to my needs and what I will or plan to do with her. In that regard, I think a high cost doll will be more easily re-salable but it's always about your needs. I'm very attract by those silicone or tpe doll but I realize in reading this forum that is't not the best doll for cuttling. Also, the maintenance on those doll are scary a bit for a newbie like me so I decided to get one good fabric to try for cuttling and also to take care of...will see from that. As your re-sale question, I can't answer because I'm very a newbie but I can confirm that we don't see a lot of them for sale here, and also on manufacturer/vendor sites...And I'm asking me why? You girls are more familiar with playing with dolls at first and also sex-toys?!! I'm I right if I say that the female market on sextoys is VERY healthy? For your 4th question, I think everybody can answer it, boy or girl, it come to whisp's sentence that I re-write up. Personnaly, I won't tell at first, sorry. I don't like judgement and I don't realy react well when in front of it...and it's very hard on our society to find people who doesn't judge, on many subject anyway...So finaly, if I found that open mind woman in my life, she will know about my doll(s) story...And by the way, your quetions don't annoyed anybody here I'm sure, you are at the right place to share your thoughs and questions. They will answer well and you will even help others with the same kind of questioning. That's what it did to me anyway so long live to this forum, and to open mind people!
JoeDoll
(Sorry for my poor English, I'm french)