Great write-up, thanks!
The only Border Collie I ever knew well, while displaying the traits you mentioned, was also incredibly soft, in the sense that if you were having a conversation around her and even raised your voice at all, as in describing an encounter you had had with somebody, would whimper and cringe. It got annoying after a while, we were always have to tiptoe around Annie's easily hurt feelings. Is this typical of the breed, or was it just that dog?