mirrorParentProven required the parent's validated_uuid, set only when a commit FULLY dropped. So proving commit N's parent meant commit N-1 had to clear every gate for itself -- tree shape, timestamp, manifest shape -- none of which bear on whether its UUID is correct. One retain anywhere permanently poisoned every descendant.

On a real 36,432-commit sqlite mirror that produced zero drops and 36,252 parent_unproven retentions: its 2000-05-29 genesis commit fails the timestamp gate, and essentially all of history descends from it.

Gate 3 already proves identity per commit and cryptographically. That proof is now recorded as attested_uuid whether or not the commit drops, and the parent proof accepts either. Drop eligibility is unchanged -- attestation governs only what a CHILD may rely on.

The existing test asserted the defect as intent, comment and all; it now asserts the corrected behaviour. (#43) check-in: e7fd62ec4d user: dmestas tags: sub-manifest