... and facing YVR's immigration/customs is now more manageable with the kiosk.

YYZ has kiosks too.


I wonder if the same aircraft is used for the indirect flights, such that there's low risk of misconnect?


Looks like it could be the same a/c. If your flight is significantly late, it still may not be the same a/c. There are flights roughly every hour YVR-YYZ.

If you decide to go through YVR and it's late, you may have the option of the n/s if there's space. If you take the n/s option and it breaks, you have fewer options.


The n/s leaves closer to bed time. That may make it easier to sleep more of the flight. During the flight get up and walk around. On long flights I usually make at least one trip to the back of the plane.

Personally I would do the n/s.