Distillation

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<observations> Date: Aug 7, 2026 * 🟡 (15:59) GitHub state check on PR #865: mergeable=true, mergeable_state=blocked, reviewDecision=null. reviewDecision cleared from CHANGES_REQUESTED → null, confirming the 15:58 hypothesis: re-requesting the reviewer (BYK) invalidates the stale CHANGES_REQUESTED review and refreshes GitHub's cached reviewDecision. The stale-review block is no longer in effect. * 🟡 (15:59) mergeable_state is STILL blocked even with reviewDecision=null — a different gate is now (or still) blocking the merge. Assistant is investigating what is currently blocking PR #865. * 🟢 (15:59) Finding recorded: on GitHub, re-requesting a reviewer clears a stale reviewDecision (does not require a new review or dismissal of the old review), validating one of the options considered at 15:58 for clearing the merge gate.