I think its a fitting climax in the bizarre world that is Evangelion to have a question mark left as to who really is Shinji's choice as his "Neo-Eve". Especially after the mental scene of her rejection of him in his own mind.
I) I tend to use Yui and Rei interchangeably when speaking about the mind of the person. Yui when talking about the figure's ambition and maternal love for Shinji. Rei when speaking about the figure's reservedness and sisterly love for Shinji. Either could suffice for the stroking of the face.
II) I watched the scene while posting and I'm not talking about the look she has throughout the scene, only the look when she looks down into Shinji's face. I should have been more specific.
III)It might be a bit of fan-wank on my part here but even with Asuka's seiyuu speaking the words the choice of words and the tone remind me more of Rei than Asuka
Psychologically why choose to resemble that which you hate? Asuka seems more the type to categorically reject ever being in any way like Rei. Though the point about Anno wanting her appearance to resemble Rei at the start of the series is poignant. (See, this kind of back and forth about the situation with points about why Anno would have her bandaged like that are what would be great additions to the entry imho).
I disagree in terms of the sense of who would have reason to say it. Again: Pardon my fanwank but: The line smack of attributes of all three women. The disgust screams of Asuka, the over-arching observation of human kind is more Misato (similar to her line about the tragedy of everyone involved with GEHIRN, NERV and the EVAs) and the tonality is more Rei-like in word choice.
Another nail in the coffin that isn't in the entry. Again: I've always been on the fence about the theory but facts like that are ironically what I think should be in the entry to give its status as a Misconception even more weight.
Thanks for the response.