I only watched the first season, but wasn't it the reverse of the suggestion?

The later seasons explained things a bit more if I remember correctly. There was more to it than what was in the first season.

The second season also went completely off the rails with the mind reprogramming noise that can be broadcast over the radio or a phone line. They also glossed over the whole "Your body will have a police record thicker than the backup dancers in a rap video when we put your mind back in it, and also you will be wanted for treason." problem. Luckily they collapsed society before that problem came up.

Spoiler alert The dolls aren't the only ones that have their minds tampered with by the end of the show.

WestWorld too.

Spoiler ahead

In season 1 of the modern adaption of Westworld it's the robot actors that don't know they are not real. The customers know it's not real.

If anything else happens in the books or the movies or other series I don't want to know.

Employees also ambiguous.

At least one of the employees is a host, the one played by Elon Musk's ex wife.

Less Dollhouse and more Eternal Sunshine for a Spotless Mind (except making memories instead of removing them) .. makes me thinkg of the new Blade Runner a bit too