diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index c9bdb425..29272378 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ first-class High-Level Emulation tier alongside LLE, modeled on
 
 1. **Two selectable backends, LLE default.** A null-by-default hook intercepts
    BIOS service dispatch before the recompiled BIOS runs; selection is
-   per-game config (`[bios] hle = true`) + CLI + env override, with a startup
+   per-game config (`[runtime] bios_hle = true`) + env override (PSX_BIOS_HLE), with a startup
    banner naming the active backend. With HLE off the build is byte-identical
    to a build without the tier.
 2. **LLE remains the reference implementation and the oracle.** It stays fully
@@ -232,8 +232,9 @@ At the start of every session, before any code change:
    concrete milestone is.
 3. Verify `docs/psx_bios_disasm.txt` exists (primary reference).
 4. Verify Ghidra MCP is reachable. If not, stop and ask.
-5. State out loud: "Architecture A is locked. No interpreter. No HLE.
-   No stubs. BIOS first. Game never until Phase 5."
+5. State out loud: "Architecture A is locked. No interpreter. No stubs.
+   LLE default + oracle; HLE only per the §0 amendments (opt-in tier,
+   LLE fallback, no fakes). BIOS first. Game never until Phase 5."
 
 If any of these fail, do not proceed with the user's task — surface
 the failure first.
diff --git a/runtime/launcher/assets/launcher.rml b/runtime/launcher/assets/launcher.rml
index a4929f7d..d050e683 100644
--- a/runtime/launcher/assets/launcher.rml
+++ b/runtime/launcher/assets/launcher.rml
@@ -357,9 +357,6 @@ button:hover { background-color: #232d3c; }
 				<div class="set-row"><span class="set-lbl">Turbo loads</span><span class="set-ctl">
 					<button class="toggle" data-event-click="toggle_turbo_loads"><span class="value" data-if="turbo_loads">On</span><span class="value" data-if="turbo_loads == false">Off</span></button>
 					</span></div>
-				<div class="set-row"><span class="set-lbl">Skip PSX BIOS</span><span class="set-ctl">
-					<button class="toggle" data-event-click="toggle_fast_boot"><span class="value" data-if="fast_boot">On</span><span class="value" data-if="fast_boot == false">Off</span></button>
-					<span class="ws-hint" data-if="fast_boot">first boot still loads to build the cache &#8212; instant after</span></span></div>
 				<div class="set-row"><span class="set-lbl">Fullscreen on launch</span><span class="set-ctl">
 					<button class="toggle" data-event-click="toggle_fullscreen"><span class="value" data-if="fullscreen">On</span><span class="value" data-if="fullscreen == false">Off</span></button></span></div>
 			<div class="set-row" data-if="ws_eligible"><span class="set-lbl">Widescreen <span class="exp-tag">EXPERIMENTAL</span></span><span class="set-ctl">
diff --git a/runtime/launcher/launcher.cpp b/runtime/launcher/launcher.cpp
index 744441d6..fc42510b 100644
--- a/runtime/launcher/launcher.cpp
+++ b/runtime/launcher/launcher.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ struct LauncherModel {
     int  crt             = 0;  // 0=raw,1=crt,2=composite,3=trinitron
     bool auto_skip_fmv   = false; // skip FMVs via the game's own skip
     bool turbo_loads     = true;  // fast-forward the machine through load screens (audio plays through); default on
-    bool fast_boot       = false;  // skip PSX BIOS via boot snapshot; default off
+    // (the old "Skip PSX BIOS" toggle is gone: the HLE boot shell-skip ships
+    // on by default via [runtime] bios_hle in the player game.toml)
     bool spu_hq          = false;
     int  aspect_index    = 0;  // index into kAspects (0 = 4:3 native)
     int  window_width    = 1280; // window size (height = width*den/num per aspect)
@@ -658,7 +659,6 @@ Result run(SDL_Window* window, void* gl_context,
     m.crt            = io.screen_kind;
     m.auto_skip_fmv  = io.auto_skip_fmv;
     m.turbo_loads    = io.turbo_loads;
-    m.fast_boot      = io.fast_boot;
     m.fullscreen     = io.fullscreen;
     m.skip_launcher  = io.skip_launcher;
     m.spu_hq         = io.spu_hq;
@@ -721,7 +721,6 @@ Result run(SDL_Window* window, void* gl_context,
     c.Bind("antialiasing",   &m.antialiasing);
     c.Bind("auto_skip_fmv",  &m.auto_skip_fmv);
     c.Bind("turbo_loads",    &m.turbo_loads);
-    c.Bind("fast_boot",      &m.fast_boot);
     c.Bind("fullscreen",     &m.fullscreen);
     c.Bind("skip_launcher",  &m.skip_launcher);
     c.Bind("show_skip_modal",&m.show_skip_modal);
@@ -845,11 +844,6 @@ Result run(SDL_Window* window, void* gl_context,
             m.turbo_loads = !m.turbo_loads;
             handle.DirtyVariable("turbo_loads");
         });
-    c.BindEventCallback("toggle_fast_boot",
-        [&m, handle](Rml::DataModelHandle, Rml::Event&, const Rml::VariantList&) mutable {
-            m.fast_boot = !m.fast_boot;
-            handle.DirtyVariable("fast_boot");
-        });
     c.BindEventCallback("toggle_fullscreen",
         [&m, handle](Rml::DataModelHandle, Rml::Event&, const Rml::VariantList&) mutable {
             m.fullscreen = !m.fullscreen;
@@ -1058,7 +1052,6 @@ Result run(SDL_Window* window, void* gl_context,
         io.screen_kind = m.crt;               io.has_screen_kind = true;
         io.auto_skip_fmv = m.auto_skip_fmv;   io.has_auto_skip_fmv = true;
         io.turbo_loads = m.turbo_loads;       io.has_turbo_loads = true;
-        io.fast_boot = m.fast_boot;           io.has_fast_boot = true;
         io.fullscreen = m.fullscreen;         io.has_fullscreen = true;
         io.skip_launcher = m.skip_launcher;   io.has_skip_launcher = true;
         io.spu_hq = m.spu_hq;                 io.has_spu_hq = true;