I've been realizing I've misread the intention in these discoveries and just wanted some help clearing them up, this goes for Alchemical Simulacrum, Greater Alchemical Simulacrum and Doppelganger Simulacrum.
Each one says "The created simulacrum is a creature, not a supernatural effect." which made my party assume that meant it's more of a permanent creature, like a homunculi, but apparently it still uses spell's duration. So if I got it right this time, it means that Simulacrum takes 24hrs to grow and lasts minimum 8hours (8th level req, 1hr per level) and does not obey you and must be an exact replica of someone.
Greater has duration of instantaneous and obeys your commands, still has to be a replica of someone unless changed with Alter Simulacrum, presumably by a wand or scroll and UMD since it's not on alchemist list.
Dopplerganger discovery states that " The alchemist learns how to create a simulacrum, a soulless duplicate of his body, into which he can project his consciousness." but even though it has the word 'simulacrum' in italics, it does not actually reference the spell and therefor these copies are permanent.
So it feels like it boils down to: Simulacrum is useless and more hassle than not, as you have to deal with copies of creatures that die in 8hrs+ and don't have to obey you.
Greater Simulacrum is the perfect discovery for a mastermind type alchemist who makes his own staff. Or a maid cafe, not judging.
Doppelganger Simulacrum don't state a range on conscious transfer "As a full-round action, he may shift his consciousness from his current body to any one of his available doppelganger simulacra, which must be on the same plane as the alchemist." so by spreading these out, an alchemist can potentially travel around the world with a full action. It states that the copies and original do not decay, but do they age, or will a younger doppelganger allow an older alchemist to be young again?
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I'm not sure the Doppelganger Simulacrum is a Simulacrum as such. If you disregard the name, it's basically a clone.
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I think that VRMH is on the right track here with regards to the Doppelganger Simulacrum...
It is basically a snapshot of the creator at the time it is made. It does not age except for the time the creator animates it. I think it is better in some ways than a clone and less powerful in others.
In some regards it is like a part time simulacrum (cf. simulacrum spell); except that it is not animate at all times, again merely when the creator is 'driving' so to speak.
Additionally within my own campaign at home, have seen this used as part of a reoccurring villain VERY successfully especially since the first few times it happened, the party was not quite sure what was going on.
So it feels like it boils down to: Simulacrum is useless and more hassle than not, as you have to deal with copies of creatures that die in 8hrs+ and don't have to obey you.
Simulacrum is a great way to interrogate someone leisurely and with whatever means you feel like using w/o them ever knowing about it.