diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7f6f2ab..3fb9997 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   handle the current target value in all cases
 * test: test lazy constructor
 * fix: double mapping if a property is in the constructor and also has a setter
+* fix: remove heuristics of value object detection to reduce confusion
 
 ## 1.11.0
 
diff --git a/src/Transformer/ObjectToObjectMetadata/ObjectToObjectMetadata.php b/src/Transformer/ObjectToObjectMetadata/ObjectToObjectMetadata.php
index 8219648..68eff79 100644
--- a/src/Transformer/ObjectToObjectMetadata/ObjectToObjectMetadata.php
+++ b/src/Transformer/ObjectToObjectMetadata/ObjectToObjectMetadata.php
@@ -92,14 +92,6 @@ public function __construct(
                 $constructorPropertyMappings[$propertyMapping->getTargetProperty()] = $propertyMapping;
             }
 
-            if (
-                !$propertyMapping->isTargetReplaceable()
-                && !$propertyMapping->hostCanMutateTarget()
-                && $propertyMapping->isTargetUnalterable()
-            ) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
             $propertyPropertyMappings[$propertyMapping->getTargetProperty()] = $propertyMapping;
 
             if ($propertyMapping->isSourceLazy()) {
diff --git a/tests/config/rekalogika-mapper/generated-mappings.php b/tests/config/rekalogika-mapper/generated-mappings.php
index 795be04..21e252b 100644
--- a/tests/config/rekalogika-mapper/generated-mappings.php
+++ b/tests/config/rekalogika-mapper/generated-mappings.php
@@ -93,25 +93,25 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 152, 335
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 153, 336
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayAccessPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 202
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 203
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayInterfacePropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 238, 348
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 239, 349
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 51
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 52
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyWithoutTypeHintDto::class
     );
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 253
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 254
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithCollectionPropertyDto::class
     );
@@ -153,19 +153,19 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 367
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 368
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithArrayPropertyWithStringKey::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyDtoWithIntKey::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 170
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 171
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithCollectionProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayAccessPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 220
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 221
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithCollectionProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayInterfacePropertyDto::class
     );
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 188
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 189
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithNullCollectionProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithNotNullArrayAccessPropertyDto::class
     );
@@ -195,55 +195,55 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 275
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 276
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithSplObjectStorageProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayAccessPropertyWithObjectKeyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 293
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 294
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithSplObjectStorageProperty::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 101, 306, 390
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 102, 307, 391
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayAccessPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 115, 320
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on lines 116, 321
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 81
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 82
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyWithCompatibleHintDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 66
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 67
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayPropertyWithoutTypeHintDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 433
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 432
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithArrayWithGetterNoSetterDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 130
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 131
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithCollectionPropertyDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 407
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php on line 408
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLike\ObjectWithTraversableProperties::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithCollectionWithGetterNoSetterDto::class
     );
@@ -261,32 +261,32 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 33
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 34
         // tests/src/IntegrationTest/IterableMapperTest.php on line 24
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\Person::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 42
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 43
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\Person::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithoutAgeDto::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 74
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 75
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithDogDto::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithDog::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 99
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 103
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithDogDto::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithImmutableDogWithoutSetter::class
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 50
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php on line 51
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithoutAge::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonDto::class
     );
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 302
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 304
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\DynamicProperty\ObjectExtendingStdClass::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\DynamicProperty\ObjectWithNonNullPropertyThatCannotBeCastFromNull::class
     );
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 310
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 312
         source: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\DynamicProperty\ObjectWithNullProperty::class,
         target: \stdClass::class
     );
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 258
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on line 260
         source: \stdClass::class,
         target: \Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\DynamicProperty\ObjectExtendingStdClassWithProperties::class
     );
@@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@
     );
     
     $mappingCollection->addObjectMapping(
-        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on lines 277, 290
+        // tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php on lines 279, 292
         source: \stdClass::class,
         target: \stdClass::class
     );
diff --git a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php
index fe787c8..2e22ddf 100644
--- a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/BasicMappingTest.php
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithImmutableDogWithoutSetter;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithoutAge;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Basic\PersonWithoutAgeDto;
+use Rekalogika\Mapper\Transformer\Exception\NewInstanceReturnedButCannotBeSetOnTargetException;
 
 class BasicMappingTest extends FrameworkTestCase
 {
@@ -81,6 +82,9 @@ public function testSetterNotCalledIfValueDoesntChange(): void
 
     public function testSkippingImmutableEntityWithNoSetterOnTarget(): void
     {
+        // old behavior no longer supported, this throws an exception now
+        $this->expectException(NewInstanceReturnedButCannotBeSetOnTargetException::class);
+
         // source
         $personDto = new PersonWithDogDto();
         $dogDto = new DogDto();
diff --git a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DateTimeMappingTest.php b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DateTimeMappingTest.php
index 5d9cf86..e2349db 100644
--- a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DateTimeMappingTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DateTimeMappingTest.php
@@ -371,14 +371,15 @@ public static function dateTimeMappingProvider(): iterable
                 null,
             ];
 
-        yield
-            self::getDescription(ObjectWithDateTimeInterface::class, ObjectWithDateTimeImmutableGetterOnly::class) . ' 2' =>
-            [
-                ObjectWithString::class,
-                ObjectWithDateTimeImmutableGetterOnly::class,
-                '2024-01-01 13:00:00 UTC',
-                null,
-            ];
+        // this no longer tolerated. this will throw an exception now
+        // yield
+        //     self::getDescription(ObjectWithDateTimeInterface::class, ObjectWithDateTimeImmutableGetterOnly::class) . ' 2' =>
+        //     [
+        //         ObjectWithString::class,
+        //         ObjectWithDateTimeImmutableGetterOnly::class,
+        //         '2024-01-01 13:00:00 UTC',
+        //         null,
+        //     ];
     }
 
     private static function getShortClass(string $class): string
diff --git a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php
index 0ffdcce..c250bc0 100644
--- a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/DynamicPropertyTest.php
@@ -251,7 +251,9 @@ public function testStdClassToStdClassWithExplicitProperties(): void
     {
         $source = new \stdClass();
         $source->public = 'public';
-        $source->private = 'private';
+        // in the new behavior, this will fail, because there is no setter on
+        // the target side
+        // $source->private = 'private';
         $source->constructor = 'constructor';
         $source->dynamic = 'dynamic';
 
diff --git a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php
index 3e5378d..02f1aaa 100644
--- a/tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/IntegrationTest/TraversableToArrayAccessMappingTest.php
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ArrayLikeDto\ObjectWithNotNullArrayAccessPropertyDto;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\Scalar\ObjectWithScalarProperties;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Tests\Fixtures\ScalarDto\ObjectWithScalarPropertiesDto;
+use Rekalogika\Mapper\Transformer\Exception\NewInstanceReturnedButCannotBeSetOnTargetException;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Transformer\Model\HashTable;
 use Rekalogika\Mapper\Transformer\Model\LazyArray;
 
@@ -423,14 +424,11 @@ public function testMappingToCollectionWithGetterButNoSetter(): void
 
     public function testMappingToArrayWithGetterButNoSetter(): void
     {
-        // the property should be skipped, cannot mutate object's
-        // array without a setter
+        $this->expectException(NewInstanceReturnedButCannotBeSetOnTargetException::class);
 
         $source = new ObjectWithTraversableProperties();
         $target = new ObjectWithArrayWithGetterNoSetterDto();
 
-        $this->assertCount(0, $target->getProperty());
         $result = $this->mapper->map($source, $target);
-        $this->assertCount(0, $result->getProperty());
     }
 }