I guess having established that Clara is "special", I guess you can't rule out any story line. But I have to say I think your scenario is pretty far out there, on two grounds.

First ground is internal show logic: Oswin Oswald never interacted directly with the Doctor in 7.001; the reality she experienced in the can was as hermetically sealed as her reality. But the idea that she once again has been canned and, I guess the Doctor is just humoring her? Or is the Doctor's reality also compromised? Has he also been canned? The complexities seem to multiply.

Second ground is external: They're making a spinoff called "Class", which, nope, isn't about Donald Trump refurbishing the TARDIS, it's about Clara's school. Basically Sarah Jane Mysteries redux, what with the beached companion leading the kiddies on new adventures and saving Earth before naptime. So Clara seems to have a different destiny than to become spam in a can.

Dude, I think the problems begin to snowball...and that's probably all for the best, since you're right, losing a companion to Dalektation would be unbearably grim.

Yes, let's head to GeekSpeak to talk cord-cutting. I've been itching to spill what I've learned in the last couple of years, but my experience has become ever more Android, no dissatisfaction in sight. I rely less on buying video from stores (didn't know Microsoft had jumped on the bandwagon, but of course), and more on free streams. They're out there, but sometimes it's a bit of work to track them down. So why don't you start by describing how you're watching TV these days. My own reality is a bit hermetically sealed, so I'd rather hear about what somebody else is up to.