Do you think your consciousness is ultimately physical or metaphysical?
I really don't know. What would make more sense for my belief to be true, is that my consciousness is incorporeal (i think that's what you mean by metaphysical). There are a whole bunch of platforms that would make this possible, mainly in the monism spectrum. All those (or most) platforms would give me what i believe too. These platforms also fit into your collective consciousness too. There are other platforms that give me my belief where i'm physical, matrix type stuff, and/or a platform where i'm a human somewhere else but i've chosen this simulation. However, here is my reasoning for why i don't think those platforms are true.
In those platforms, if i'm physical... i probably am also finite. If i am a finite being simulated into this reality, then i know 100% i wouldn't choose this reality based off who i am. If i have a finite time to watch movies or play video games... i'm going to play my favorites. That's a loose analogy bc i do watch some stuff i don't like... but, downloading into simulations is a lot different bc i know what i'm doing... playing realities until i die. I wouldn't bother playing this reality, however i would be here if i'm infinite. Now, if i'm infinite in a physical form... that can also be the case like matrix... but, then, i don't see any difference bw if the platform is corporeal or incorporeal. It basically be the same thing. However, being incorporeal kinda fits better into being infinite... it's just a logical guess.
I've heard of your collective consciousness belief and it seems to be backed up by some science. However, i don't understand why you stop at just here, or a cycle of this reality. This reality could be just one of either many or infinite. In monisitic type platforms, we are a collective too, however, there is a source consciousness behind it that is everything... i think even that has some scientific correlations too.. but mainly in the form of collective consciousness. I just don't understand why you would be hesitant to make that jump.
It could be just who i am. As far back as i can remember as a child, i "knew" i'm not from this reality. I lost that child for awhile, but i'm starting to get back to him. He was a smart little turd. But, it's not only these memories that have steered me to what i believe... i've had multiple "spiritual" experiences that seem to line up with what i believe too. Now, i can't directly correlate them but they do give me clues such as precognition type experiences. So, i'm working with the best evidence i have so far to make this tentative conclusion. If it was "only" a collective consciousness, it wouldn't make sense of all my experiences.
I believe there is a "self" that has always been you... a self that has been consistent throughout the years and hasn't changed. I think that self will continue after death. Not your identity...etc. Things that have been created here. I think you can tap into remembering this experience, but as an outside observer. So, i believe i have a true self in that sense. Does everyone... i have no clue (and don't really care). But it would fit into the platforms if they did. I say i don't care, bc everyone's experience is their own. Just like i can't figure out why someone would drink their own urine to stay young... i really don't want to try and figure out everyone's afterlife the same. I have no clue why people do what they do, or what they are to the platforms. All i know is in an infinite consciousness type platform... every type should exist and that's what it seems i'm looking at.
Btw... i'm at work so i didn't have time to read back or make sure i'm using words carefully.. so that's that. Let me know you questions or if you want me to elaborate on anything.