Normalize 8.3 paths before stage dispatch and support read-only resolved-path output. Dot-sourcing loads definitions without running the installer. Test the PM delegation contract instead of restoring the removed Node installer.
Use native environment layouts in PM and Hindsight tests. Give steering-test parents no database so child construction cannot create SQLite files at mock paths. Parent verification passed 145 Python tests with one skip and all native PowerShell path, delegation, and stage checks.