So there was a time when if I enabled ipv6 on my router and PC, it meant I'm still behind NAT, my public and private IP addresses are the same (except mapped onto v6), my DNS is the same, and all packets take the same routes?

I'm too young to remember, but I've dealt with old routers and PCs, don't recall that ever being the default. If it was, they took the second step too early.

Btw, there's also a difference between dividing up the existing blocks vs handing out new ones.