I like your hair long but the shorter version would look great. I am also one of those who finds longer hair easier to deal with. When my hair was shorter (shoulder length) I had to style it every morning (poor me). I tend to like to just let my hair style itself. Longer with long layers works better for that.
I don't have super thick hair but I get that point.

Just make sure you get it cut for how you'll style it.

You can't get a great cut for curly/wavy and have it look awesome straightened. [And vice versa.] The c/w specialists really look at your pattern and cut to enhance/offset randomness.

I wrote another reply but closed out before sending, duh. Bottom line is I haven't found ~ shoulder length harder to style (in terms of wash-product-go) than longer as long as the cut is good. And a big yes to all the hair on the floor and the light feeling at the end even when the length remains about the same.

I prefer longer on me -- and fully support you growing yours out -- but sometimes ya gotta chop or the mullet never really dies. 0;

ps omg resist the straight-across bangs unless you're committed to straightening and never being around humidity hahaha! I hear ya on that temptation. Longer side-swept are great with wavy hair though. Much more forgiving.

...have you looked up Devacut salons to see if there's one near you?

I haven't ever used one -- other "curl specialty" places near me -- but I've known people who have and their hair came out amazing.
http://www.devacurl.com/salon-stylist-search.html

Oh, your hair is to die for! Keep it long, it is just too beautiful to cut

I know this isn't the direction of your original thread, but I would also suggest a Devacurl Salon if you are near one!! and Devacurl products!! They sell them at Ulta.
Lorraine Massey has written a book called the Curly Girl Handbook - LIFE CHANGING. I highly recommend it. It has helped me to embrace my curls and to maximize what God has given me instead of fighting it every day. It starts with a good cut. There are quite few You Tube channels for curly girls and Naturallycurly.com is a great resource.

I have very thick hair too. I was also told it was Asian-like, whatever that means. I have had my share of bob haircuts, and they are difficult to manage without some blow drying skills. And your stylist has to be skilled in thinning out bulk. And I need product to keep the top from going flat because of the weight of the hair.

I like your hair now, but if you want to go in a shorter direction, I'd work with a stylist to let the shorter layers grow out a bit. I think LONG layers are good with thick hair, but arriving at that point can be a process of give and take.

I'm not a fan of the long bob. I do like your hair long, but I think you need a better cut that works with your hair structure! If that means growing some layers out a bit I would do that. Interesting that they don't thin the hair out in the US, they always do it with my hair (either with shears or those other implements, no idea what they're called), no matter how long my hair is.