I think cobane and Takeshi Kovac5 both hit the nail squarely on the head. The majority of the script is very strongly readable as questioning the assumption that the connective tissue between living things is organic biological provenance, and not consciousness. Equally, the unicorn dream and Gaff’s keepsake are clear indications that we are menat to take away that Deckard is very likely a replicant – possibly a model equivalent to Rachel rather than the combat team that Batty leads (his weakness, “more human than human”).

I find that tension/inconsistency maddening, and not in a good way. On a thematic level, the film can be read as very seriously flawed as a result. One saving throw could be that the point of the story (as represented in the Final Cut) was for Batty (having failed to get satisfaction from his maker) to help the Deckard replicant achieve enlightment as a “humane creature” whilst challenging the audience’s preconceptions with the fact that the character it primarily identified with on the journey was also, in fact a robot.

I still prefer the imaginary, CGI fixed, voiceover-less theatrical cut that runs in my head.

Plus, if he is a replicant, what was he?  The basic sissy model?  He gets tossed around by everyone.