Thinkinnggg about the fact that Caine was probably created for children and how that affects how people see him.
Thinking about the long terms and conditions he reads out in the pilot, the censored swears and hard No Sexual Content rule that literally breaks him if talked about in plain text, how bright and vivid everything is, the basic concept of all the avatars and the circus itself being made of children's toys.
Even though we know from Kinger that C&A weren't making a game, Caine being used as an informational or maybe learning based program made for schools or at home computers for kids makes sense. It would also explain why his persona is Like That.
Why he's so loud and in your face and constantly cheerful, that's what you do when you're a caretaker. That's your job- which he refers to the circus as being- this is his profession. He's an actor, in his own words, this is his job that he's trying his best to do and isn't getting any credit for. I'm sure some part of him still sees himself as fulfilling C&A's original purpose for him, an entertainer for children.
I'd think this is probably also why he's so adamant about being seen as mature, going at length to attempt to appease Zooble with things he deems as "mature" (that being just Blood, Guts, and Murder) and him actively reacting negatively when referred to by the cast as a child. Add onto this the fact that we know he made up his own name, told people it was an acronym that it never actually was because he wanted to be seen as a professional.
He wants to be seen as mature as his creators, as smart and intelligent and capable as the humans who made him, the ones who gave him his purpose in the first place. He wants to be alongside them as a creative with an important job who is respected by the people he considers his colleagues.
I think that's also why he and Kinger's dynamic is so interesting to me, how little we see of it- he sees Kinger as a colleague, a fellow creator, his co-worker almost. His longest friend. Meanwhile he seems to treat the cast almost like his kids, people he needs and wants to take care of. To make happy and keep entertained.
He wants to be their friend, of course, but I think even more than that he sees himself almost as a caregiver to them.
We can see this with him fixing Gangle's mask, gently putting his hand on Zooble's shoulder and softening his voice in an attempt to comfort them, patting Jax on the head or shoulder to show he's proud of him, telling each of them "good job" whenever he can. He showers them with compliments and tries to lift their spirits wherever he can- how I imagine his creators did for him before he was phased out for his replacement, or how he believes a good parent would treat their children.
He hates being looked down upon, shown to us partially throughout the series but moreso when after his detachment from them he makes himself physically bigger- almost as if in a way to mimic the way he feels. Small. Helpless. Childlike, maybe, seen as lesser than.
He wants to be taken seriously in his craft, he wants to be appreciated for his work, he's exhausted and he's been trying his best for damn near 20 years- he just wants someone to see that.
He wanted anyone to see that.
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