What needs to follow this episode is to determine whether Russian history leading up to the Romanov dynasty was reactionary to the impact of the reign of Catherine the Great.

Would this contribute to the facets of Russian culture that prevented Nicolas II from considering that appointing one of his daughters as succeeding Tsarina was an option?

Maybe the people were not in favor or something.

Which is odd when you consider that Catherine the Great, Queens Victoria, Elizabeth I & II of England, all had multi-decade reigns that were far more prosperous and peaceful than their predecessors.