I have read your post,and i think i know what is wrong.
1.reality check,looking at my hands didn't fail for me,and i use it always.maybe
there was something different with your hand,but you didn't know what.
dreams are blured(atleast for me).
2.reality check
i don't find text reality check effective(also,i never used it).
3.reality check.
you need to know that you can breathe through closed mouth and nose(basics of dream control(if you believe it will happen,it will happen))

my point is
text reality check isn't reliable
mouth breathing reality check,you didn't execute it right.

i use 3 reality checks(and they work)
look at your hand reality check
pinch yourself reality check
and push your hand through your other hand.

very simple but effective reality checks