Great write-up, Devon. I'd never heard anyone distill the "even though"/"always" test like you have, and I had an epiphany. I'm plotting a novel this year and want it to stay open for the possibility of it turning into a trilogy or series. The "even though"/"always" test gives me a lane to set aside an aspect of the MC's character's yearnings in my WIP that can carry forward across novels. I'm bookmarking this post, for future reference.