diff --git a/ion/analyze/__init__.py b/ion/analyze/__init__.py
index 25dc87b..484685d 100644
--- a/ion/analyze/__init__.py
+++ b/ion/analyze/__init__.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def compute_analysis(ctx, cache: dict | None = None) -> dict:
             r = cache[ck]
             if r and r["candidates"]:
                 cohs.append(r)
-    arch = lifecycle.archive_candidates(live, pairs, cfg)
+    arch = lifecycle.archive_candidates(live, pairs, cfg, unread=set(live) - set(data))
     result = {"lifecycle": lifecycle.stages(snaps, cfg), "boundaries": boundaries.violations(snaps, pairs, cfg), "gen": gen, "repos": sorted(snaps), "analyzed": sorted(data), "health": health_f, "policy": policy_f,
               "coupling": pairs, "cohesion": cohs, "archive": arch, "lagging_forks": lifecycle.lagging_forks(snaps)}
     return result
diff --git a/ion/analyze/lifecycle.py b/ion/analyze/lifecycle.py
index 9ca5bfc..538a26c 100644
--- a/ion/analyze/lifecycle.py
+++ b/ion/analyze/lifecycle.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ def stages(snaps: dict[str, dict], cfg, now=None) -> dict[str, str]:
     return {n: stage_of(n, s, cfg, now) for n, s in snaps.items() if not s.get("fork") and n not in cfg["exclude"]}
 
 
-def archive_candidates(snaps: dict[str, dict], pairs: list[dict], cfg, now=None) -> list[dict]:
+def archive_candidates(snaps: dict[str, dict], pairs: list[dict], cfg, now=None, unread: set | None = None) -> list[dict]:
+    """`unread`: live repos whose contents were not loaded (no mirror), so whether they reference a repo is unknown."""
     th = cfg["thresholds"]
     dependents: dict[str, set] = {n: set() for n in snaps}
     for p in pairs:
@@ -47,7 +48,12 @@ def archive_candidates(snaps: dict[str, dict], pairs: list[dict], cfg, now=None)
             continue
         age = days_since(s.get("pushed_at"), now)
         score, reasons = 0.5, [f"no push in {int(age)} days"]
-        if not dependents.get(name):
+        others_unread = (unread or set()) - {name}
+        if dependents.get(name):
+            pass
+        elif others_unread:
+            reasons.append(f"references unknown: {len(others_unread)} other repos were not analysed")
+        else:
             score += 0.2
             reasons.append("no other repo references it")
         superseded = None
diff --git a/ion/cli.py b/ion/cli.py
index 4012015..c29bfca 100644
--- a/ion/cli.py
+++ b/ion/cli.py
@@ -157,8 +157,7 @@ def cmd_report(ctx, args, results=None):
     text, changed = build_digest(ctx, results or {})
     if changed:
         errs = notify(ctx, text)
-        if len(errs) < len(ctx.cfg["notifiers"]):
-            mark_digest_sent(ctx, results or {})
+        mark_digest_sent(ctx, results or {})      # a failed delivery is queued in the outbox and retried, not re-sent
         for e in errs:
             out(f"notify error (queued for retry): {e}")
     else:
@@ -356,7 +355,10 @@ def main(argv=None) -> int:
               "execute": cmd_execute, "report": cmd_report, "run": cmd_run, "status": cmd_status, "explain": cmd_explain,
               "grep": cmd_grep, "autofix": cmd_autofix, "plan-config": cmd_plan_config, "dashboard": cmd_dashboard}[args.cmd]
         r = fn(ctx, args)
-        return r if isinstance(r, int) else 0
+        if isinstance(r, int):
+            return r
+        # like `run`: a stage that reported errors (a breaker trip, a failed sync) exits non-zero
+        return 1 if args.cmd in ("propose", "sync-approvals", "execute") and isinstance(r, dict) and r.get("errors") else 0
     except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001
         print(f"error: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
diff --git a/ion/execute/autofix.py b/ion/execute/autofix.py
index b4ab916..f260c1c 100644
--- a/ion/execute/autofix.py
+++ b/ion/execute/autofix.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def plan(self, p: dict) -> Plan:
             base = self.default_branch(repo)
 
             def fix(repo=repo, w=w, url=url, base=base):
-                snap = {"default_branch": base, "description": self._description(repo)}
+                snap = {**self._snapshot(repo), "default_branch": base}      # what the preview passed the fixer
                 got = digest(diff_of(self.ctx, fixer, repo, snap, w, url))
                 want = s["diffs"].get(repo)
                 if got != want:
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ def pr(repo=repo, base=base):
                 Step(f"{repo}.open-pr", f"{repo}: open the PR and label it `needs decision`", None, pr)]
         return Plan(pid, "autofix", "apply", steps)
 
-    def _description(self, repo: str) -> str:
+    def _snapshot(self, repo: str) -> dict:
         from ..collect.snapshot import latest_snapshots
-        return (latest_snapshots(self.db)[0].get(repo) or {}).get("description") or ""
+        return dict(latest_snapshots(self.db)[0].get(repo) or {})
 
     def after_phase(self, p, plan):
         proposals.set_status(self.db, p["id"], "done")
diff --git a/ion/execute/split.py b/ion/execute/split.py
index 6cb4259..807d8d4 100644
--- a/ion/execute/split.py
+++ b/ion/execute/split.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import json
 
 from .. import proposals
-from ..util import Refused, SafetyError, filter_repo_path, safe_write
+from ..util import Refused, SafetyError, filter_repo_path, redact, safe_write
 from ..writes import WriteRequest
 from .base import Executor, Plan, Step, filter_args
 from .provenance import origin_callback
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@ def filt():
             self.g(["filter-repo", *fargs, "--commit-callback", origin_callback(self.cfg.org, A), "--force"], cwd=cdir)
 
         def has_refs() -> bool:
-            return bool(self.g([*self.auth(n_url), "ls-remote", n_url], check=False).stdout.strip())
+            r = self.g([*self.auth(n_url), "ls-remote", n_url], check=False)
+            if r.returncode != 0:              # fail closed: a remote we cannot list is not known to be empty
+                raise SafetyError(f"cannot list {N}'s refs to check that it is empty: {redact(r.stderr or '')[:160]}")
+            return bool(r.stdout.strip())
 
         def create():
             try:
diff --git a/ion/fleet.py b/ion/fleet.py
index fc79c67..f5e6414 100644
--- a/ion/fleet.py
+++ b/ion/fleet.py
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ class DependabotConfig(Autofixer):
     def find_repos(self, ctx, repos):
         out = []
         for n, s in repos.items():
+            ov = parse_repo_override(s.get("override_text"))[0]
+            if ov.get("ignore") or ov.get("enabled") is False:
+                continue
             tree = _tree(ctx, n, s)
             if tree is not None and ".github/dependabot.yml" not in tree and ".github/dependabot.yaml" not in tree \
                     and detect_ecosystems(tree):
diff --git a/ion/planconfig.py b/ion/planconfig.py
index cf93ee2..02a4a80 100644
--- a/ion/planconfig.py
+++ b/ion/planconfig.py
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ def brief(c):
         p = proposals.view(row)
         c = c_new.get(p["key"])
         if c is None:
-            tracked.append({"id": p["id"], "key": p["key"], "effect": "no longer a candidate under the new config"})
+            if p["key"] in c_old:          # autofix and follow-up proposals are never analysis candidates
+                tracked.append({"id": p["id"], "key": p["key"], "effect": "no longer a candidate under the new config"})
         elif c.get("blocked"):
             tracked.append({"id": p["id"], "key": p["key"], "effect": f"blocked: {c['blocked']}"})
         else:
diff --git a/ion/propose/scoring.py b/ion/propose/scoring.py
index 2cc49ba..819d826 100644
--- a/ion/propose/scoring.py
+++ b/ion/propose/scoring.py
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ def cooldown_blocks(rejected_at: str | None, rejected_score: float | None, score
         return False
     if ((now or _now()) - t).days >= cfg["thresholds"]["cooldown_days"]:
         return False
-    return score < (rejected_score or 0.0) + cfg["thresholds"]["rescore_delta"]
+    return round(score - (rejected_score or 0.0), 9) < cfg["thresholds"]["rescore_delta"]     # 0.7 - 0.55 is 0.1499...
 
 
 def replan_needed(old_hash: str | None, new_hash: str, epoch_score: float | None, score: float, cfg) -> bool:
     if old_hash is not None and old_hash != new_hash:
         return True
-    return epoch_score is not None and abs(score - epoch_score) >= cfg["thresholds"]["rescore_delta"]
+    return epoch_score is not None and round(abs(score - epoch_score), 9) >= cfg["thresholds"]["rescore_delta"]
diff --git a/tests/test_execute.py b/tests/test_execute.py
index 1a6634b..f819cd6 100644
--- a/tests/test_execute.py
+++ b/tests/test_execute.py
@@ -302,6 +302,28 @@ def test_split_refuses_non_empty_target(ctx, world):
     assert subjects(world, "mono-engine", "main") == ["pre"]
 
 
+def test_split_refuses_when_it_cannot_tell_the_target_is_empty(ctx, world, monkeypatch):
+    """A transient `ls-remote` failure is not an empty repo: here the target already has a branch of its own."""
+    sh("git", "init", "-q", "--bare", "-b", "main", str(world / "mono-engine.git"))
+    work = world / "_prefill"
+    sh("git", "init", "-q", "-b", "other", str(work))
+    (work / "f").write_text("x")
+    sh("git", "add", "-A", cwd=work); sh("git", "commit", "-qm", "pre", cwd=work)
+    sh("git", "push", "-q", str(world / "mono-engine.git"), "other", cwd=work)
+    p = prep(ctx, "split", SPLIT)
+    ex = executor_for(ctx, "split")
+    real = ex.g
+
+    def g(argv, cwd=None, **kw):
+        if "ls-remote" in argv:
+            return subprocess.CompletedProcess(argv, 128, "", "fatal: unable to access: Could not resolve host")
+        return real(argv, cwd=cwd, **kw)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ex, "g", g)
+    with pytest.raises(SafetyError, match="cannot list"):
+        ex.apply(p, dry_run=False)
+    assert branches(world, "mono-engine") == ["other"]                            # nothing pushed
+
+
 def test_split_refuses_existing_public_repo_for_private_split(ctx, world):
     sh("git", "init", "-q", "--bare", "-b", "main", str(world / "mono-engine.git"))   # someone pre-created it, public
     p = prep(ctx, "split", {**SPLIT, "private": True})
diff --git a/tests/test_fleet_planconfig.py b/tests/test_fleet_planconfig.py
index 6fde02f..1d895d8 100644
--- a/tests/test_fleet_planconfig.py
+++ b/tests/test_fleet_planconfig.py
@@ -344,3 +344,44 @@ def test_plan_config_cli_with_set_overrides(ctx, capsys):
 def test_config_diff_is_flat_and_ignores_private_keys():
     a, b = {"a": {"b": 1, "c": 2}, "_path": "x"}, {"a": {"b": 1, "c": 3}, "_path": "y"}
     assert config_diff(a, b) == [{"key": "a.c", "old": 2, "new": 3}]
+
+
+def test_executed_autofix_gives_the_fixer_the_snapshot_the_preview_did(collected, monkeypatch):
+    """A plugin may read any snapshot field (here `languages`); the executor must recompute the same diff."""
+    from ion import fleet
+
+    class EditorConfig(Autofixer):
+        name = "editorconfig-by-language"
+        description = "add .editorconfig matching the primary language"
+        commit_message = pr_title = pr_body = "Add .editorconfig"
+
+        def find_repos(self, ctx, repos):
+            return ["old-tool"]
+
+        def apply(self, workdir, repo, snap):
+            size = 4 if "Python" in (snap.get("languages") or {}) else 2
+            self.write(workdir, ".editorconfig", f"root = true\n\n[*]\nindent_size = {size}\n")
+
+    monkeypatch.setitem(fleet.FIXERS, EditorConfig.name, EditorConfig)
+    cli.cmd_autofix(collected, cli.build_parser().parse_args(["autofix", EditorConfig.name, "--propose"]))
+    p = approve(collected, proposals.view(collected.db.one("select * from proposals where kind='autofix'")))
+    executor_for(collected, "autofix").apply(p, dry_run=False)
+    assert proposals.get(collected.db, p["id"])["status"] == "done"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("text", ["ignore: true\n", "enabled: false\n"])
+def test_dependabot_config_honours_a_repo_opt_out(collected, text):
+    from helpers import set_override
+    from ion.fleet import fleet_repos
+    set_override(collected, "alpha-core", text)
+    assert "alpha-core" not in DependabotConfig().find_repos(collected, fleet_repos(collected))
+
+
+def test_plan_config_does_not_drop_proposals_analysis_never_makes(collected):
+    """An autofix proposal is not an analysis candidate under either config, so it cannot stop being one."""
+    from ion.config import deep_merge
+    run_analyze(collected)
+    cli.cmd_autofix(collected, cli.build_parser().parse_args(["autofix", "dependabot-config", "--repo", "alpha-*", "--propose"]))
+    same = load_config(None, deep_merge({k: v for k, v in collected.cfg.items() if not k.startswith("_")}, {}))
+    r = plan_config(collected, same)
+    assert r["config_changes"] == [] and r["open_proposals"] == []
diff --git a/tests/test_lifecycle_boundaries.py b/tests/test_lifecycle_boundaries.py
index b765e11..8876405 100644
--- a/tests/test_lifecycle_boundaries.py
+++ b/tests/test_lifecycle_boundaries.py
@@ -158,3 +158,23 @@ def test_cross_scope_merge_can_be_proposed_with_a_warning(ctx):
     m = proposals.view(ctx.db.one("select * from proposals where kind='merge'"))
     assert "different scopes" in m["subject"]["cross_scope"]
     assert any(r.startswith("BOUNDARY") for r in m["text"]["risks"]) and "crosses a boundary" in m["text"]["title"]
+
+
+def test_no_dependents_is_claimed_only_when_every_repo_was_read(ctx, world, tmp_path):
+    """alpha-core depends on old-tool. Without alpha-core's mirror that reference cannot be seen, so the archive
+    evidence must not say "no other repo references it" (and must not score it)."""
+    import shutil
+    from conftest import sh
+    work = tmp_path / "w"
+    sh("git", "clone", "-q", str(world / "alpha-core.git"), str(work))
+    (work / "pyproject.toml").write_text('[project]\nname = "alpha-core"\nversion = "0.1"\n'
+                                         'dependencies = ["old-tool", "requests", "pyyaml", "click"]\n')
+    sh("git", "commit", "-qam", "depend on old-tool", cwd=work)
+    sh("git", "push", "-q", "origin", "main", cwd=work)
+    run_collect(ctx)
+    arch = {a["repo"]: a for a in run_analyze(ctx)["archive"]}["old-tool"]
+    assert arch["dependents"] == ["alpha-core"] and not arch["qualifies"]
+    shutil.rmtree(ctx.mirror_path("alpha-core"))
+    arch = {a["repo"]: a for a in run_analyze(ctx)["archive"]}["old-tool"]
+    assert not arch["qualifies"] and "no other repo references it" not in arch["reasons"]
+    assert any(r.startswith("references unknown") for r in arch["reasons"])
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.py b/tests/test_misc.py
index afa9ab9..5813fd7 100644
--- a/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -230,3 +230,34 @@ def test_legacy_mimar_config_is_found_with_migration_note(tmp_path, monkeypatch,
     (tmp_path / ".mimar" / "mimar.yml").write_text("org: o\n")
     assert find_config_file() == tmp_path / ".mimar" / "mimar.yml"
     assert "deprecated" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_digest_is_not_resent_while_a_notifier_backlog_is_queued(tmp_path, home, world):
+    """A failed delivery is queued and retried; it must not make every later run send the same digest again."""
+    import argparse
+    bus = FakeBus()
+    bus.down = True
+    log = tmp_path / "digest.log"
+    ctx = make_ctx(tmp_path, world, {"notifiers": [{"type": "file", "path": str(log)},
+                                                   {"type": "divan_bus", "client": "/c/divan.py", "to": "ops"}]}, bus=bus)
+    args = argparse.Namespace(apply=False)
+    run_collect(ctx)
+    new_proposal(ctx, "merge", MERGE)
+    cli.cmd_report(ctx, args, {})                                  # file ok, bus down: queued
+    new_proposal(ctx, "archive", {"repo": "old-tool"})
+    cli.cmd_report(ctx, args, {})                                  # something changed: sent, and queued for the bus
+    sent = log.read_text().count("awaiting approval (2)")
+    for _ in range(3):
+        cli.cmd_report(ctx, args, {})                              # nothing changed
+    assert log.read_text().count("awaiting approval (2)") == sent
+    assert ctx.db.one("select count(*) n from outbox where sent=0")["n"] == 2
+
+
+def test_execute_exits_nonzero_when_it_reports_errors(ctx, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    from helpers import approve
+    run_collect(ctx)
+    for r in ("alpha-core", "alpha-cli", "mono"):
+        approve(ctx, new_proposal(ctx, "archive", {"repo": r}))    # 3 archives > max_archives 2: the breaker trips
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "make_ctx", lambda args, no_mirror=False: ctx)
+    assert cli.main(["execute", "--apply"]) == 1
+    assert "error: circuit breaker" in capsys.readouterr().out
diff --git a/tests/test_propose.py b/tests/test_propose.py
index 862b331..c89fd89 100644
--- a/tests/test_propose.py
+++ b/tests/test_propose.py
@@ -275,3 +275,11 @@ def test_llm_call_cap_and_none_backend():
     assert not NoneLLM(load_config(None, {"org": "o"})).enabled
     with pytest.raises(LLMError):
         NoneLLM(load_config(None, {"org": "o"})).complete_json("x")
+
+
+def test_a_rise_of_exactly_rescore_delta_counts():
+    """README: "the score moves by 0.15 or more". In floats 0.7 - 0.55 and 0.6 - 0.45 are just under 0.15."""
+    from ion.util import parse_ts
+    c = cfg()
+    assert not scoring.cooldown_blocks("2026-10-01T00:00:00Z", 0.55, 0.7, c, now=parse_ts("2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"))
+    assert scoring.replan_needed("a", "a", 0.45, 0.6, c)