I agree about the duality. Stella wanted more than money, jewelry, etc. she wanted marriage and a home. That made her a bit more sympathetic.

Yes, there's a definite duality to the character which, as I recall, becomes increasingly foregrounded as the film progresses.
It's been so long since the last time I watched this (I would guess at least three years, judging by that post I made above). I must watch it again sometime.
'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).

Both stuffed animals, the teddy bear and the panda, were visible when Eric went up to Stella's apartment late the one night. The bear was on the floor, and the panda was visible on a chair just before Stella slammed the door.
So the suggestion that she was a sentimental, innocent sort was actually made in the film before she was murdered.

I think the idea is that up till that point in the film you believe that Stella is a femme fatale of sorts, and then she's murdered (a major turning point in the plot - we expect her presence to persuade Stanton to kill June) and the stuffed panda is discovered in her room, revealing her innocence and changing the audience's perception of her from manipulative tart to a naive and exploited young woman.
'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).

i thought it just screamed pre-old maid.
that's probably why she said she'd wait for him - it's not like the town was teeming with hunks that would make an honest woman of her and give her want she wanted.

Yes! I had a stuffed panda bear when I was a kid, so it was especially poignant.
Well, why don't we call it "research" or something?