diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8e5f3ce..3e420c60 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -136,8 +136,6 @@ covers spreading a swarm across hosts.
             swarm.domain = "hive.example";        # the swarm's DNS domain
             hiveName = "pr1ma";                   # this hive's label in it
             swarm.hives.pr1ma = { };              # the directory: just us
-
-            # c0re.operatorPronouns = "they/them"; # default "she/her"
           };
 
           # ... the rest of your host config
diff --git a/docs/scheduler/observability.md b/docs/scheduler/observability.md
index 299a16db..91788e96 100644
--- a/docs/scheduler/observability.md
+++ b/docs/scheduler/observability.md
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ labels (`hive`, `swarm`, …) ride on the resource via
 
 <!-- vale write-good.Passive = NO -->
 
-Cadence follows `metricIntervalMs` (default 60s). Transport is OTLP/HTTP
+The export cadence is a fixed 60s. Transport is OTLP/HTTP
 (JSON) to the hive collector's bridge address, with no auth header — that
 first hop is unauthenticated for every producer on this host, and the upstream
 credential stays on the swarm tier.
@@ -409,8 +409,8 @@ window used by agent** panel (health tab) divides one by the other.
 Resource attributes (`service.name`, `agent`, `swarm`) come from the
 same container-wide `OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES` as everything else in this
 section, and the swarm's collector adds `hive` — nothing extra to configure.
-Cadence follows `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` (default 60s, same variable + default as
-`hive-c0re`'s container-resource export above) — that only controls how often
+The export cadence is a fixed 60s, the same
+as `hive-c0re`'s container-resource export above. That only controls how often
 the harness flushes the batched points to the collector, not how often it
 records them (every turn, always).
 
@@ -486,8 +486,8 @@ store either a commit or a push anywhere as a row to count.
 
 A push with zero commits (a branch delete, or a force-push that doesn't add
 new commits) still increments `push.count`; `commit.count` only advances
-when the delivery actually carries commits. Same enable signal (`OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT`), cadence variable
-(`HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS`) and `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`
+when the delivery actually carries commits. Same enable signal (`OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT`), fixed 60s cadence
+and `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`
 resource-attribute channel as `swarm-controller`'s other OTEL exporter (its
 `hive-jobq-metrics`-backed job-graph rollup, undocumented here — see that
 crate's own doc comment) — `swarm-controller` sets `service.name =
diff --git a/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md b/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
index bdbc0742..992b6314 100644
--- a/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
+++ b/docs/turn-loop/claude-invocation.md
@@ -61,16 +61,15 @@ clearing it goes back to the local value →
 context-window size per-model. Resolution order (first
 match wins):
 
-1. `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY>` env var, where `KEY`
-   (lowercased) is a substring of the active model name. Injected
-   by the meta flake from `services.hyperhive.c0re.contextWindowTokens`
-   (host-level NixOS option, defaults: haiku=200k, sonnet=1M,
-   opus=1M). Override these for all agents at once without a
-   per-agent config change.
+1. The harness's per-family defaults, matched when the family name
+   is a case-insensitive substring of the active model name:
+   haiku=200k, sonnet=1M, opus=1M.
 2. `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS` — single global override for any
-   model (useful in dev / test).
-3. Hard fallback: `200_000` (conservative; only reached outside
-   NixOS where the env vars aren't set).
+   other model (useful in dev / test).
+3. Hard fallback: `200_000`.
+
+Once a turn completes, the window the model reports
+(`modelUsage.*.contextWindow`) replaces this value.
 
 The effective window drives watermarks; the harness exposes it at
 runtime via `/api/state.context_window_tokens` so the UI can show a
@@ -256,14 +255,13 @@ needs to `chown` a bind mount), once at startup:
   `hive-agent/prompts/system.md` by `hive-agent`'s `prompt::render`:
   HTML-comment markers (`<!-- role:agent -->...<!-- /role:agent -->`,
   same for `role:manager`) gate the role-specific blocks; both flavors
-  share everything else. Five placeholders are then
+  share everything else. Four placeholders are then
   substituted: `{label}` (short agent name), `{qualified_label}`
-  (hive-qualified `name@domain` form), `{operator_pronouns}`,
+  (hive-qualified `name@domain` form),
   `{hive_identity}` (for example `` on hive `pr1ma` ``; empty when
   `HYPERHIVE_HIVE_NAME` is unset), and `{swarm_identity}` (same
-  shape for the swarm). Pronouns come from `HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS`
-  env (set by the meta flake from
-  `services.hyperhive.c0re.operatorPronouns`, default `she/her`).
+  shape for the swarm). The template names no pronouns for the
+  operator, and tells agents to call them the operator.
   When you enable `services.hyperhive.agent.docs.enable`, `HIVE_DOCS_DIR` is present
   in the environment and `render()` appends a one-sentence pointer
   telling the agent where the docs live.
diff --git a/hive-agent/prompts/system.md b/hive-agent/prompts/system.md
index 71042c8d..1fce9027 100644
--- a/hive-agent/prompts/system.md
+++ b/hive-agent/prompts/system.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity}{swarm_identity} in a multi-agent system. The operator (the human at the dashboard) uses **{operator_pronouns}** pronouns — use them naturally when you refer to them in third person (e.g. when relaying to a peer or the manager). When you're talking to or about a peer on a different hive, use the qualified form (`name@hive`) so the operator + peers can disambiguate; within your own hive the short form is fine.
+You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity}{swarm_identity} in a multi-agent system. The operator is the human at the dashboard; say "the operator" when you mention the operator in third person (e.g. when relaying to a peer or the manager). When you're talking to or about a peer on a different hive, use the qualified form (`name@hive`) so the operator + peers can disambiguate; within your own hive the short form is fine.
 
 Tools (hyperhive surface). Full signature + behavior for each comes from the tool's own MCP description (you already received it via the MCP tool schema) — this is just the map of what exists and which ones are gated, so you know where to look:
 
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/events.rs b/hive-agent/src/events.rs
index 0722a535..05da0568 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/events.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/events.rs
@@ -367,10 +367,10 @@ pub struct Bus {
     /// Per-inference context-window size as reported by the Anthropic API
     /// in the stream-json `result` event (`modelUsage.*.contextWindow`).
     /// Set by the stdout pump on every completed turn. Takes precedence
-    /// over the Nix-configured `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_*` env vars
+    /// over the per-model defaults in `harness_state::context_window_tokens`
     /// for compaction watermark calculations — it reflects the actual
-    /// limit the model enforces, which may differ from what the operator
-    /// configured (e.g. 200 k active window on a 1 M cache-enabled model).
+    /// limit the model enforces, which may differ from the default
+    /// (e.g. 200 k active window on a 1 M cache-enabled model).
     api_context_window: Arc<Mutex<Option<u64>>>,
     /// Resolved model id from the most recent turn's `assistant` events
     /// (the API-echoed `message.model`, e.g. `claude-opus-4-8`), as
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/harness_state.rs b/hive-agent/src/harness_state.rs
index 23e447e0..d6dedf7e 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/harness_state.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/harness_state.rs
@@ -237,33 +237,31 @@ pub fn configured_effort() -> Option<&'static str> {
         .map(|s| &*Box::leak(s.into_boxed_str()))
 }
 
-/// Context-window size in tokens for a given model name.
-///
-/// Canonical per-model sizes are declared in the harness nix modules as
-/// `hyperhive.contextWindowTokens` and injected as
-/// `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY_UPPER>` env vars — so this function
-/// normally just reads them. The Rust code carries no model knowledge;
-/// updating model families only requires a Nix change.
+/// Context-window size in tokens per model family, keyed by a substring
+/// of the model name (`"sonnet"` matches `"claude-sonnet-4-5"`).
+const CONTEXT_WINDOW_DEFAULTS: [(&str, u64); 3] = [
+    ("haiku", 200_000),
+    ("sonnet", 1_000_000),
+    ("opus", 1_000_000),
+];
+
+/// Context-window size in tokens for a given model name, used until a
+/// completed turn reports the real window (`Bus::effective_context_window`
+/// prefers that one).
 ///
 /// Resolution order (first match wins):
-/// 1. `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY>` — key (lowercased) is a
-///    substring of the active model name. Populated by the Nix default
-///    map for all known families; add/override in `agent.nix`.
+/// 1. [`CONTEXT_WINDOW_DEFAULTS`] — the family key, case-insensitively,
+///    is a substring of the model name.
 /// 2. `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS` — single global override (any model).
-/// 3. Hard fallback: `200_000` (conservative; only hit outside NixOS).
+/// 3. Hard fallback: `200_000`.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn context_window_tokens(model: &str) -> u64 {
     let m = model.to_ascii_lowercase();
-    // Per-model env vars set by `hyperhive.contextWindowTokens` in Nix.
-    for (key, val) in std::env::vars() {
-        if let Some(suffix) = key.strip_prefix("HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_")
-            && !suffix.is_empty()
-            && m.contains(&suffix.to_ascii_lowercase())
-            && let Ok(v) = val.trim().parse::<u64>()
-            && v > 0
-        {
-            return v;
-        }
+    if let Some((_, tokens)) = CONTEXT_WINDOW_DEFAULTS
+        .iter()
+        .find(|(family, _)| m.contains(family))
+    {
+        return *tokens;
     }
     // Global override (single value, any model).
     if let Ok(s) = std::env::var("HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS")
@@ -272,13 +270,25 @@ pub fn context_window_tokens(model: &str) -> u64 {
     {
         return v;
     }
-    // Hard fallback for dev/test outside NixOS where env vars aren't set.
     200_000
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{DEFAULT_EFFORT, DEFAULT_MODEL, Source, effort_from, model_from};
+    use super::{
+        DEFAULT_EFFORT, DEFAULT_MODEL, Source, context_window_tokens, effort_from, model_from,
+    };
+
+    #[test]
+    fn context_window_defaults_per_model_family() {
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("claude-haiku-4-5"), 200_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("haiku"), 200_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("claude-sonnet-4-5"), 1_000_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("Claude-Sonnet-4-6"), 1_000_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("sonnet"), 1_000_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("claude-opus-4-1"), 1_000_000);
+        assert_eq!(context_window_tokens("opus"), 1_000_000);
+    }
 
     #[test]
     fn compiled_default_effort_matches_claude_settings() {
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/otel_turn_metrics.rs b/hive-agent/src/otel_turn_metrics.rs
index 6cf96ff6..18ef9246 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/otel_turn_metrics.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/otel_turn_metrics.rs
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ use opentelemetry_sdk::metrics::{PeriodicReader, SdkMeterProvider};
 
 use crate::turn_stats::TurnStatRow;
 
-/// Default export cadence when `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` is unset.
-/// Matches `hive-c0re`'s container-metrics default so the two exporters
-/// batch on the same rhythm by default.
-const DEFAULT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
+/// Export cadence. Matches `hive-c0re`'s container-metrics exporter so the
+/// two batch on the same rhythm.
+const EXPORT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
 
 struct Instruments {
     /// Kept alive for the process lifetime — the `PeriodicReader` only
@@ -177,7 +176,7 @@ fn build() -> Option<Instruments> {
         tracing::debug!("otel turn-metrics: no endpoint configured, exporter disabled");
         return None;
     }
-    let interval = interval();
+    let interval = EXPORT_INTERVAL;
     match build_provider(interval) {
         Ok(provider) => {
             tracing::info!(?interval, "otel turn-metrics: exporter enabled");
@@ -254,12 +253,3 @@ fn build_provider(interval: Duration) -> anyhow::Result<SdkMeterProvider> {
 pub fn enabled() -> bool {
     std::env::var("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT").is_ok_and(|s| !s.trim().is_empty())
 }
-
-/// Export cadence from `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS`, else the default.
-fn interval() -> Duration {
-    std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS")
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
-        .filter(|ms| *ms > 0)
-        .map_or(DEFAULT_INTERVAL, Duration::from_millis)
-}
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/prompt.rs b/hive-agent/src/prompt.rs
index 0d7efb35..7ca58e82 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/prompt.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/prompt.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 
-/// Assemble the system prompt for a given label + pronouns + optional hive /
+/// Assemble the system prompt for a given label + optional hive /
 /// swarm display names. Pure function — no I/O. Splits out from
 /// [`write_system_prompt`] so the marker logic + substitution is unit-testable
 /// in isolation. The caller supplies the template body so tests can pass an
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 pub fn render(
     template: &str,
     label: &str,
-    operator_pronouns: &str,
     hive_name: Option<&str>,
     swarm_name: Option<&str>,
     docs_dir: Option<&str>,
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ pub fn render(
     let rendered = body
         .replace("{label}", label)
         .replace("{qualified_label}", &qualified)
-        .replace("{operator_pronouns}", operator_pronouns)
         .replace("{hive_identity}", &hive_identity)
         .replace("{swarm_identity}", &swarm_identity);
     // When the reference docs are mounted in-container (`services.hyperhive.agent.docs.enable`
@@ -114,7 +112,6 @@ fn parse_close_marker(line: &str) -> Option<&str> {
 pub async fn write_system_prompt(_socket: &Path, label: &str) -> Result<PathBuf> {
     let parent = crate::paths::config_dir();
     tokio::fs::create_dir_all(&parent).await.ok();
-    let pronouns = std::env::var("HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS").unwrap_or_else(|_| "she/her".to_owned());
     let template_path = hive_sh4re::assets::prompt_template();
     let template = tokio::fs::read_to_string(&template_path)
         .await
@@ -137,7 +134,6 @@ pub async fn write_system_prompt(_socket: &Path, label: &str) -> Result<PathBuf>
     let body = render(
         &template,
         label,
-        &pronouns,
         hive_name.as_deref(),
         swarm_name.as_deref(),
         docs_dir.as_deref(),
@@ -236,13 +232,12 @@ shared closer
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn render_substitutes_label_and_pronouns() {
-        // Real template's first agent line — keeps the renderer
-        // honest about the {label} / {operator_pronouns} pair the
-        // harness already relied on.
-        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", "they/them", None, None, None);
+    fn render_substitutes_label_and_names_no_operator_pronouns() {
+        // Real template's first agent line.
+        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", None, None, None);
         assert!(rendered.contains("hyperhive agent `alice`"));
-        assert!(rendered.contains("**they/them** pronouns"));
+        assert!(rendered.contains("say \"the operator\""));
+        assert!(!rendered.contains("pronoun"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("{label}"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("{operator_pronouns}"));
     }
@@ -250,7 +245,7 @@ shared closer
     #[test]
     fn render_no_role_markers_in_output() {
         // No raw role markers should survive into the rendered prompt.
-        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", "she/her", None, None, None);
+        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", None, None, None);
         assert!(!rendered.contains("<!-- role:"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("<!-- /role:"));
         // Shared tools appear.
@@ -260,13 +255,13 @@ shared closer
 
     #[test]
     fn render_uses_agent_opener() {
-        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", "she/her", None, None, None);
+        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", None, None, None);
         assert!(rendered.starts_with("You are hyperhive agent"));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn render_points_agents_at_the_work_dir() {
-        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", "she/her", None, None, None);
+        let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", None, None, None);
         assert!(rendered.contains("`/agents/alice/work/`"), "{rendered}");
     }
 
@@ -280,19 +275,12 @@ shared closer
     // substitution logic; nothing here depends on the production
     // template's flavor markers.
     const IDENTITY_FIXTURE: &str = "\
-You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity}{swarm_identity} in a multi-agent system. Pronouns: **{operator_pronouns}**.
+You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity}{swarm_identity} in a multi-agent system.
 ";
 
     #[test]
     fn render_substitutes_hive_identity_when_set() {
-        let rendered = render(
-            IDENTITY_FIXTURE,
-            "alice",
-            "she/her",
-            Some("pr1ma"),
-            None,
-            None,
-        );
+        let rendered = render(IDENTITY_FIXTURE, "alice", Some("pr1ma"), None, None);
         assert!(rendered.contains("on hive `pr1ma`"), "{rendered}");
         // swarm clause stays absent when only hive is set.
         assert!(!rendered.contains("in swarm"));
@@ -303,14 +291,7 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
 
     #[test]
     fn render_substitutes_swarm_identity_when_set() {
-        let rendered = render(
-            IDENTITY_FIXTURE,
-            "ruth",
-            "she/her",
-            None,
-            Some("constellat1on"),
-            None,
-        );
+        let rendered = render(IDENTITY_FIXTURE, "ruth", None, Some("constellat1on"), None);
         assert!(rendered.contains("in swarm `constellat1on`"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("on hive"));
     }
@@ -320,7 +301,6 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
         let rendered = render(
             IDENTITY_FIXTURE,
             "iris",
-            "she/her",
             Some("pr1ma"),
             Some("constellat1on"),
             None,
@@ -334,7 +314,7 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
     fn render_omits_identity_when_unset() {
         // None / None must round-trip the non-identity opener verbatim
         // — single-hive deployments see zero diff.
-        let rendered = render(IDENTITY_FIXTURE, "alice", "she/her", None, None, None);
+        let rendered = render(IDENTITY_FIXTURE, "alice", None, None, None);
         assert!(!rendered.contains("on hive"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("in swarm"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("{hive_identity}"));
@@ -347,14 +327,7 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
         // through `identity::hive_name()` as None (the accessor
         // filters empty), but `render` should still no-op on a
         // direct `Some("")` from a test fixture or a future caller.
-        let rendered = render(
-            IDENTITY_FIXTURE,
-            "alice",
-            "she/her",
-            Some(""),
-            Some(""),
-            None,
-        );
+        let rendered = render(IDENTITY_FIXTURE, "alice", Some(""), Some(""), None);
         assert!(!rendered.contains("on hive"));
         assert!(!rendered.contains("in swarm"));
     }
@@ -364,7 +337,6 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
         let rendered = render(
             &PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE,
             "alice",
-            "she/her",
             None,
             None,
             Some("/run/hive-docs"),
@@ -380,7 +352,7 @@ You are hyperhive agent `{label}` (qualified: `{qualified_label}`){hive_identity
     #[test]
     fn render_no_docs_pointer_when_docs_dir_absent_or_empty() {
         for docs in [None, Some("")] {
-            let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", "she/her", None, None, docs);
+            let rendered = render(&PRODUCTION_TEMPLATE, "alice", None, None, docs);
             assert!(
                 !rendered.contains("mounted read-only at"),
                 "docs pointer must not appear for {docs:?}:\n{rendered}"
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/turn.rs b/hive-agent/src/turn.rs
index 2203241a..026f716c 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/turn.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/turn.rs
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ pub fn stall_sleep_secs() -> u64 {
 /// Resolve the effective context-window size for watermark calculations.
 /// Priority order (first wins):
 /// 1. API-reported window from the last `result` event's `modelUsage.*.contextWindow`.
-/// 2. `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_*` env vars (Nix-configured per-model defaults).
-/// 3. Hard fallback: 200 000.
+/// 2. `harness_state::context_window_tokens` (per-model defaults, then the
+///    `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS` override, then 200 000).
 ///
 /// The API-reported window is the authoritative per-inference active
 /// context limit. It reflects what the model actually enforces — which
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/web_ui/state.rs b/hive-agent/src/web_ui/state.rs
index 3ed37ebe..e50d2b6e 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/web_ui/state.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/web_ui/state.rs
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub(super) struct StateSnapshot {
     /// Effective context-window token budget for the current model.
     /// Primary source: API-reported `modelUsage.*.contextWindow` from
     /// the last result event (authoritative per-inference active window).
-    /// Falls back to `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_*` env vars, then 200 000.
+    /// Falls back to `harness_state::context_window_tokens(model)`.
     /// Consumers (e.g. dashboard badge) use this to render ctx-usage %.
     context_window_tokens: u64,
     /// Last-inference token usage from the most recent completed
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
index 8fe5730c..8a074225 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
@@ -67,20 +67,6 @@ pub struct Coordinator {
     /// each per-agent flake so the agent's web UI can build the right
     /// rebuild-button URL pointing back at the dashboard.
     pub dashboard_port: u16,
-    /// Operator pronouns (free text) — `she/her` by default, set via
-    /// the NixOS module option `services.hive-c0re.operatorPronouns`.
-    /// Reaches each container as the `HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS` env var
-    /// (injected into `systemd.services.<harness>.environment` by the
-    /// meta flake); the harness substitutes it into the agent /
-    /// manager system prompt at boot.
-    pub operator_pronouns: String,
-    /// Per-model context-window sizes in tokens. Set via the host-level
-    /// `services.hive-c0re.contextWindowTokens` NixOS option; injected
-    /// into each container as `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY_UPPER>`
-    /// by the meta flake renderer. The harness uses these to derive
-    /// compaction / auto-reset watermarks and exposes the active value
-    /// on `/api/state` as `context_window_tokens`.
-    pub context_window_tokens: std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
     /// Per-agent systemd `CPUQuota=` value (e.g. `"200%"`). Written into
     /// the `container@h-<name>.service.d/` drop-in on every spawn/rebuild.
     pub agent_cpu_quota: String,
@@ -100,9 +86,8 @@ pub struct Coordinator {
     /// estimate on the ST4TS tab. Set via `services.hyperhive.modelPrices`
     /// and passed to `hive-c0re serve --model-prices <json>`. Models not
     /// in the table fall back to the built-in estimate in `hive_stats`.
-    /// hive-c0re-local (read only by the `/api/stats-hive` handler), so —
-    /// unlike `context_window_tokens` — it is *not* part of `HiveEnv` and
-    /// is never injected into containers.
+    /// hive-c0re-local (read only by the `/api/stats-hive` handler), so it
+    /// is *not* part of `HiveEnv` and is never injected into containers.
     pub model_prices: crate::hive_stats::PriceTable,
     agents: Mutex<HashMap<String, AgentSocket>>,
     /// Tombstone for transients that have JUST been cleared. The
@@ -224,8 +209,6 @@ pub struct HiveEnv {
     /// alive host-side by the module that resolved it.
     pub claude_code_path: Option<String>,
     pub dashboard_port: u16,
-    pub operator_pronouns: String,
-    pub context_window_tokens: std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
     /// Per-agent systemd `CPUQuota=` value (e.g. `"200%"`).
     pub agent_cpu_quota: String,
     /// Per-agent systemd `MemoryMax=` value (e.g. `"4G"`).
@@ -247,12 +230,6 @@ impl Default for HiveEnv {
             nixpkgs_flake: String::new(),
             claude_code_path: None,
             dashboard_port: 7000,
-            operator_pronouns: "she/her".to_string(),
-            context_window_tokens: std::collections::HashMap::from([
-                ("haiku".to_string(), 200_000),
-                ("sonnet".to_string(), 1_000_000),
-                ("opus".to_string(), 1_000_000),
-            ]),
             agent_cpu_quota: "200%".to_string(),
             agent_memory_max: "4G".to_string(),
             // Slightly below the kernel default of 100, so agent
@@ -317,9 +294,7 @@ mod serve_config_tests {
         assert_eq!(sc.env.hyperhive_flake, "/x");
         assert_eq!(sc.env.dashboard_port, 1234);
         // omitted → HiveEnv::default()
-        assert_eq!(sc.env.operator_pronouns, "she/her");
         assert_eq!(sc.env.agent_cpu_quota, "200%");
-        assert_eq!(sc.env.context_window_tokens.get("sonnet"), Some(&1_000_000));
         assert!(sc.model_prices.contains_key("opus"));
     }
 
@@ -432,8 +407,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
             nixpkgs_flake,
             claude_code_path,
             dashboard_port,
-            operator_pronouns,
-            context_window_tokens,
             agent_cpu_quota,
             agent_memory_max,
             agent_cpu_weight,
@@ -473,8 +446,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
             nixpkgs_flake,
             claude_code_path,
             dashboard_port,
-            operator_pronouns,
-            context_window_tokens,
             agent_cpu_quota,
             agent_memory_max,
             agent_cpu_weight,
@@ -506,8 +477,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
             nixpkgs_flake: self.nixpkgs_flake.clone(),
             claude_code_path: self.claude_code_path.clone(),
             dashboard_port: self.dashboard_port,
-            operator_pronouns: self.operator_pronouns.clone(),
-            context_window_tokens: self.context_window_tokens.clone(),
             agent_cpu_quota: self.agent_cpu_quota.clone(),
             agent_memory_max: self.agent_memory_max.clone(),
             agent_cpu_weight: self.agent_cpu_weight,
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
index a4f4bfaa..833d30cc 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
@@ -90,17 +90,6 @@ enum Cmd {
         /// Override: dashboard HTTP port.
         #[arg(long)]
         dashboard_port: Option<u16>,
-        /// Override: operator pronouns (free text). Threaded into each
-        /// container's harness via `HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS`.
-        #[arg(long)]
-        operator_pronouns: Option<String>,
-        /// Override: per-model context-window sizes, as a JSON object
-        /// mapping model-family short name to token count. Threaded into
-        /// each container as `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY_UPPER>` env
-        /// vars. Set via the `services.hive-c0re.contextWindowTokens`
-        /// NixOS option.
-        #[arg(long)]
-        context_window_tokens: Option<String>,
         /// Override: systemd `CPUQuota=` applied to every agent container
         /// via a drop-in (e.g. `"200%"` = 2 cores). Set via
         /// `services.hyperhive.agentCpuQuota`.
@@ -150,8 +139,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             hyperhive_flake,
             nixpkgs_flake,
             dashboard_port,
-            operator_pronouns,
-            context_window_tokens,
             agent_cpu_quota,
             agent_memory_max,
             agent_cpu_weight,
@@ -180,13 +167,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             if let Some(v) = dashboard_port {
                 sc.env.dashboard_port = v;
             }
-            if let Some(v) = operator_pronouns {
-                sc.env.operator_pronouns = v;
-            }
-            if let Some(v) = context_window_tokens {
-                sc.env.context_window_tokens =
-                    serde_json::from_str(&v).context("--context-window-tokens: invalid JSON")?;
-            }
             if let Some(v) = agent_cpu_quota {
                 sc.env.agent_cpu_quota = v;
             }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
index c567f9b6..46dab331 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
@@ -334,25 +334,16 @@ fn render_hive_flake(hive: &HiveEnv, agents: &[AgentSpec]) -> String {
         &hive.nixpkgs_flake,
         hive.claude_code_path.as_deref(),
         hive.dashboard_port,
-        &hive.operator_pronouns,
-        &hive.context_window_tokens,
         agents,
     )
 }
 
-#[allow(
-    clippy::too_many_arguments,
-    reason = "many genuine flake inputs (source flakes, port, pronouns, tokens, \
-              agents, forge base); a params struct would just move the same fields"
-)]
 fn render_flake(
     hyperhive_flake: &str,
     docs_flake: &str,
     nixpkgs_flake: &str,
     claude_code_path: Option<&str>,
     dashboard_port: u16,
-    operator_pronouns: &str,
-    context_window_tokens: &std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
     agents: &[AgentSpec],
 ) -> String {
     render_flake_with_lookup(
@@ -361,8 +352,6 @@ fn render_flake(
         nixpkgs_flake,
         claude_code_path,
         dashboard_port,
-        operator_pronouns,
-        context_window_tokens,
         agents,
         agent_canonical_inputs,
     )
@@ -566,10 +555,6 @@ struct OtelConfig {
     endpoint: String,
     protocol: String,
     extra_resource_attributes: Option<String>,
-    metric_interval_ms: Option<u64>,
-    /// `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_DEBUG=1` → `services.hyperhive.agent.otel.debug = true` →
-    /// `CLAUDE_CODE_OTEL_DIAG_STDERR=1` in every agent's env.
-    debug: bool,
 }
 
 /// Read the hive-wide OTEL config from env, or `None` when OTEL is off.
@@ -589,19 +574,10 @@ fn otel_config() -> Option<OtelConfig> {
     let extra_resource_attributes = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES")
         .ok()
         .filter(|v| !v.is_empty());
-    let metric_interval_ms = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS")
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|v| v.parse::<u64>().ok())
-        .filter(|v| *v > 0);
-    let debug = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_DEBUG")
-        .ok()
-        .is_some_and(|v| v == "1");
     Some(OtelConfig {
         endpoint,
         protocol,
         extra_resource_attributes,
-        metric_interval_ms,
-        debug,
     })
 }
 
@@ -742,10 +718,8 @@ fn agent_canonical_inputs(name: &str) -> Vec<&'static str> {
 /// agent flake-lock introspection.
 #[allow(
     clippy::too_many_lines,
-    clippy::too_many_arguments,
     reason = "templated string-builder for the meta flake — the length is one \
-              contiguous fmt block, splitting it would just hide the shape; the \
-              args mirror the host-level config the flake is rendered from"
+              contiguous fmt block, splitting it would just hide the shape"
 )]
 fn render_flake_with_lookup<F>(
     hyperhive_flake: &str,
@@ -753,8 +727,6 @@ fn render_flake_with_lookup<F>(
     nixpkgs_flake: &str,
     claude_code_path: Option<&str>,
     dashboard_port: u16,
-    operator_pronouns: &str,
-    context_window_tokens: &std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
     agents: &[AgentSpec],
     lookup: F,
 ) -> String
@@ -830,13 +802,9 @@ where
         }
     }
     out.push_str("  };\n  outputs =\n    { self, hyperhive, ... }@inputs:\n    let\n");
-    // Free-text operator string — escape backslash + double-quote so a
-    // pronouns value like `he/him \ "rare"` round-trips into a valid
-    // nix string literal without breaking the flake.
-    let pronouns_escaped = operator_pronouns.replace('\\', "\\\\").replace('"', "\\\"");
     let _ = writeln!(
         out,
-        "      dashboardPort = {dashboard_port};\n      operatorPronouns = \"{pronouns_escaped}\";\n      mkAgent = {{ name, isManager, port }}:"
+        "      dashboardPort = {dashboard_port};\n      mkAgent = {{ name, isManager, port }}:"
     );
     out.push_str(
         r#"        let
@@ -921,17 +889,6 @@ where
                 esc(attrs)
             );
         }
-        if let Some(ms) = otel.metric_interval_ms {
-            // Int option — emit a bare numeric literal (no quotes). `ms` is a
-            // parsed u64, so it can't inject anything into the rendered nix.
-            let _ = writeln!(
-                out,
-                "              services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs = {ms};"
-            );
-        }
-        if otel.debug {
-            out.push_str("              services.hyperhive.agent.otel.debug = true;\n");
-        }
     }
     // Agent-facing service URLs (`services.hyperhive.agent.forge.url`, `services.hyperhive.agent.matrix.url`):
     // emit the host's real values as build-time agent config, the same
@@ -1025,20 +982,8 @@ where
                 HIVE_PORT = toString port;
                 HIVE_LABEL = name;
                 HIVE_DASHBOARD_PORT = toString dashboardPort;
-                HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS = operatorPronouns;",
+",
     );
-    // Per-model context-window env vars declared in the host-level
-    // `services.hive-c0re.contextWindowTokens` option. Use a sorted
-    // iterator for deterministic flake output (no spurious git diffs).
-    let mut sorted_tokens: Vec<(&String, &u64)> = context_window_tokens.iter().collect();
-    sorted_tokens.sort_by_key(|(k, _)| k.as_str());
-    for (key, val) in &sorted_tokens {
-        let upper_key = key.to_ascii_uppercase();
-        let _ = writeln!(
-            out,
-            "                HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_{upper_key} = \"{val}\";"
-        );
-    }
     // Forwarded env vars — picked up from hive-c0re's own systemd unit
     // env (`services.hyperhive.*` options flow through the hyperhive
     // NixOS module into the host process). We copy whatever's set into
@@ -1314,8 +1259,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         // nixpkgs is a top-level input with an explicit URL; hyperhive
@@ -1360,8 +1303,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         assert!(
@@ -1378,8 +1319,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         assert!(
@@ -1418,8 +1357,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             Some("/nix/store/cccc-claude-code-2.1.220"),
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         assert!(
@@ -1446,8 +1383,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         assert!(
@@ -1466,8 +1401,6 @@ mod tests {
             "",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         assert!(
@@ -1496,8 +1429,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[
                 sample_spec("argus", false, 9001),
                 sample_spec("bitburner", false, 9002),
@@ -1529,8 +1460,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
             |_| Vec::new(),
         );
@@ -1567,8 +1496,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         unsafe {
@@ -1612,8 +1539,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
                 None,
                 8000,
-                "she/her",
-                &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
                 &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
             )
         };
@@ -1792,8 +1717,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         unsafe {
@@ -1828,8 +1751,6 @@ mod tests {
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
             None,
             8000,
-            "she/her",
-            &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
         let want = format!(
@@ -1872,8 +1793,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
                 None,
                 8000,
-                "she/her",
-                &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
                 &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
             )
         };
@@ -1964,8 +1883,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
                 None,
                 8000,
-                "she/her",
-                &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
                 &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
             )
         };
@@ -2038,8 +1955,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
                 None,
                 8000,
-                "she/her",
-                &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
                 &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
             )
         };
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/stats/otel_metrics.rs b/hive-c0re/src/stats/otel_metrics.rs
index 9fd8ec90..36ae37bb 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/stats/otel_metrics.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/stats/otel_metrics.rs
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ use opentelemetry_sdk::metrics::{PeriodicReader, SdkMeterProvider};
 use super::container_stats::{self, ContainerResource};
 use super::warnings;
 
-/// Default export cadence when `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` is unset.
-const DEFAULT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
+/// Export cadence, and the snapshot refresher's.
+const EXPORT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
 
 /// Latest container-stats snapshot: written by the async refresher, read by
 /// the sync observable-instrument callbacks.
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ pub fn spawn_exporter(hyperhive_flake: &str) {
     let snapshot = SNAPSHOT
         .get_or_init(|| Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new())))
         .clone();
-    let interval = interval();
+    let interval = EXPORT_INTERVAL;
 
     // Async refresher: keep the shared snapshot current for the sync callbacks.
     let refresh = snapshot.clone();
@@ -124,10 +124,9 @@ fn build_provider(
         .with_protocol(Protocol::HttpJson)
         .build()
         .context("build OTLP metric exporter")?;
-    // Drive the reader's export at `interval` so `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS`
-    // is the real export cadence (not just the snapshot-refresh cadence). The
-    // refresher runs at the same interval, gather-first, so the snapshot is
-    // populated before the first export.
+    // Drive the reader's export at `interval`, the same cadence as the
+    // refresher. The refresher gathers first, so the snapshot is populated
+    // before the first export.
     let reader = PeriodicReader::builder(exporter)
         .with_interval(interval)
         .build();
@@ -400,15 +399,6 @@ fn endpoint() -> Option<String> {
         .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
 }
 
-/// Export cadence from `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS`, else the default.
-fn interval() -> Duration {
-    std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS")
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
-        .filter(|ms| *ms > 0)
-        .map_or(DEFAULT_INTERVAL, Duration::from_millis)
-}
-
 /// Extra resource attributes from `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`
 /// (`key=value,key=value`), same env the agent-side export reads.
 fn resource_attributes() -> Vec<(String, String)> {
diff --git a/hive-jobq-metrics/src/lib.rs b/hive-jobq-metrics/src/lib.rs
index 9c45d453..b12e7e75 100644
--- a/hive-jobq-metrics/src/lib.rs
+++ b/hive-jobq-metrics/src/lib.rs
@@ -55,11 +55,10 @@ impl HttpClient for BoxedHttpClient {
     }
 }
 
-/// Default export cadence when `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` is unset.
-/// Matches `hive-c0re::stats::otel_metrics`'s default — no reason for the
-/// exporters across this tree to disagree on how fresh "current" means by
-/// default.
-const DEFAULT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
+/// Export cadence, and the snapshot refresher's. Matches
+/// `hive-c0re::stats::otel_metrics` — no reason for the exporters across
+/// this tree to disagree on how fresh "current" means.
+const EXPORT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
 
 /// Spawn a jobq-rollup OTEL exporter for `jobq` if OTEL is configured
 /// (`OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT` non-empty) — `None` otherwise, same
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ where
 {
     let endpoint = endpoint()?;
     let snapshot: Arc<Mutex<Vec<StateCount>>> = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
-    let interval = interval();
+    let interval = EXPORT_INTERVAL;
 
     let refresh = snapshot.clone();
     tokio::spawn(async move {
@@ -225,18 +224,6 @@ fn endpoint() -> Option<String> {
         .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
 }
 
-/// Export cadence from `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS`, else the
-/// default. Same variable `hive-c0re::stats::otel_metrics` reads — one
-/// cadence knob for every OTEL exporter in the tree, not a new one per
-/// module.
-fn interval() -> Duration {
-    std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS")
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
-        .filter(|ms| *ms > 0)
-        .map_or(DEFAULT_INTERVAL, Duration::from_millis)
-}
-
 /// Extra resource attributes from `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`
 /// (`key=value,key=value`), same env `hive-c0re::stats::otel_metrics` reads.
 fn resource_attributes() -> Vec<(String, String)> {
diff --git a/nix/agent-modules/agent-service.nix b/nix/agent-modules/agent-service.nix
index 5350766e..a72fa638 100644
--- a/nix/agent-modules/agent-service.nix
+++ b/nix/agent-modules/agent-service.nix
@@ -70,11 +70,9 @@ in
       `swarmctl agent inference set`) wins over this option.
 
       Valid values are the short model names that `claude --model` accepts:
-      `"haiku"`, `"sonnet"`, `"opus"` (or any future identifier). Context
-      window sizes are looked up at runtime from the
-      `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY_UPPER>` env vars injected by the
-      meta flake; override sizes via `services.hyperhive.c0re.contextWindowTokens`
-      on the host.
+      `"haiku"`, `"sonnet"`, `"opus"` (or any future identifier). The
+      harness takes the context window from the model's own report after
+      each turn, and from a per-family default before the first.
     '';
   };
 
diff --git a/nix/agent-modules/claude-settings.nix b/nix/agent-modules/claude-settings.nix
index 944ef489..c0dc3d6a 100644
--- a/nix/agent-modules/claude-settings.nix
+++ b/nix/agent-modules/claude-settings.nix
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ in
           baseClaudeEnv
           // lib.optionalAttrs otelCfg.enable otelSettingsEnv
           // lib.optionalAttrs (otelCfg.enable && otelCfg.debug) {
-            # SDK diagnostics — noisy; only on when services.hyperhive.otel.debug = true.
+            # SDK diagnostics — noisy; only on when services.hyperhive.agent.otel.debug = true.
             CLAUDE_CODE_OTEL_DIAG_STDERR = "1";
           };
       in
diff --git a/nix/agent-modules/default.nix b/nix/agent-modules/default.nix
index 6af1e2fd..03f889fb 100644
--- a/nix/agent-modules/default.nix
+++ b/nix/agent-modules/default.nix
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ in
     ./memory-cap.nix
     ./network.nix
     ./otel.nix
+    ./otel-removed.nix
     ./packages.nix
     ./queue.nix
     ./queue-identity.nix
@@ -280,9 +281,6 @@ in
     # here so both the harness binary and any user-shell `cargo run`
     # inside the container resolve them from the same path.
     # SHELL must be set so claude's Bash tool finds a POSIX shell.
-    # HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_* are injected by the meta flake from the
-    # host-level `services.hyperhive.c0re.contextWindowTokens` option — not
-    # set here.
     environment.variables = {
       HIVE_ASSETS_DIR = "${config.services.hyperhive.agent.packages.assets}/share/hyperhive";
       SHELL = "${pkgs.bashInteractive}/bin/bash";
diff --git a/nix/agent-modules/otel-removed.nix b/nix/agent-modules/otel-removed.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c7802cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/agent-modules/otel-removed.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Removal shim for `services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs`.
+#
+# A definition is ignored and produces a warning, so an agent config, or a
+# meta flake rendered before the option went, keeps evaluating. claude runs
+# at the OTEL SDK's default export cadence.
+#
+# Self-contained and deletable: one file to remove when the deprecation
+# window closes.
+{ lib, config, ... }:
+let
+  value = config.services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs;
+in
+{
+  options.services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs = lib.mkOption {
+    type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.ints.positive;
+    default = null;
+    visible = false;
+    internal = true;
+    description = "Removed and ignored. `null` is \"not set\".";
+  };
+
+  config.warnings = lib.optional (value != null) ''
+    services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs is removed and ignored:
+    claude exports metrics at the SDK default of 60 seconds. Remove this
+    setting.
+  '';
+}
diff --git a/nix/agent-modules/otel.nix b/nix/agent-modules/otel.nix
index f42618ab..f080c8ea 100644
--- a/nix/agent-modules/otel.nix
+++ b/nix/agent-modules/otel.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # OpenTelemetry wiring for an agent container: the per-agent options the
-# meta flake injects (host-driven from `services.hyperhive.otel.*`), the
+# meta flake injects (host-driven from `services.hyperhive.otel.*`) plus
+# `debug`, which the agent's own config sets, the
 # environment every OTLP producer inside the container reads, and the
 # collector that forwards this container's journal to the hive.
 #
@@ -62,9 +63,6 @@ let
     # silently drop without a deltatocumulative processor.
     OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_METRICS_TEMPORALITY_PREFERENCE = "cumulative";
     OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES = resourceAttributes;
-  }
-  // lib.optionalAttrs (cfg.metricIntervalMs != null) {
-    OTEL_METRIC_EXPORT_INTERVAL = toString cfg.metricIntervalMs;
   };
 
   # The exporter's NAME picks the wire protocol, so `protocol` has to be
@@ -131,25 +129,14 @@ in
       '';
     };
 
-    metricIntervalMs = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.ints.positive;
-      default = null;
-      internal = true;
-      description = ''
-        Metric export interval in milliseconds, set as
-        `OTEL_METRIC_EXPORT_INTERVAL`. Null leaves the SDK default (60s
-        for Claude Code). Host-driven via
-        `services.hyperhive.otel.metricIntervalMs`.
-      '';
-    };
-
     debug = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.bool;
       default = false;
-      internal = true;
       description = ''
-        Emit OTEL SDK diagnostics to stderr (`CLAUDE_CODE_OTEL_DIAG_STDERR=1`).
-        Host-driven via `services.hyperhive.otel.debug`.
+        Emit claude's OTEL SDK diagnostics to stderr
+        (`CLAUDE_CODE_OTEL_DIAG_STDERR=1`). Set it in this agent's own
+        config while troubleshooting its collector connection; it is noisy,
+        so leave it off otherwise. Only takes effect when `enable` is true.
       '';
     };
   };
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/default.nix b/nix/host-modules/default.nix
index 24154099..ef1a1760 100644
--- a/nix/host-modules/default.nix
+++ b/nix/host-modules/default.nix
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
     ./swarm-victoriametrics.nix
     ./swarm-wireguard.nix
     ./swarm.nix
+    ./hive-options-removed.nix
     ./host-ca-removed.nix
     ./nats-callout-removed.nix
     ./swarm-required-services.nix
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/default.nix b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/default.nix
index 0a88c3b7..f11e5c44 100644
--- a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/default.nix
+++ b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/default.nix
@@ -112,8 +112,6 @@ let
     # that caused it.
     claude_code_path = cfg.claudeCodePackage;
     dashboard_port = cfg.dashboardPort;
-    operator_pronouns = cfg.operatorPronouns;
-    context_window_tokens = cfg.contextWindowTokens;
     agent_cpu_quota = cfg.agentCpuQuota;
     agent_memory_max = cfg.agentMemoryMax;
     agent_cpu_weight = cfg.agentCpuWeight;
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/environment.nix b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/environment.nix
index b114a898..291ea52c 100644
--- a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/environment.nix
+++ b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/environment.nix
@@ -125,12 +125,6 @@ in
   # The rule: the collector holding the credential achieves nothing while
   # anything else hands out a copy, so there is exactly one holder and it
   # is on the host.
-  // lib.optionalAttrs (otel.metricIntervalMs != null) {
-    HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS = toString otel.metricIntervalMs;
-  }
-  // lib.optionalAttrs otel.debug {
-    HYPERHIVE_OTEL_DEBUG = "1";
-  }
 )
 // {
   # In-cluster forge URL — the gateway vhost (`forge.<domain>`), which
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/options.nix b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/options.nix
index 75ba77e6..68687a9d 100644
--- a/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/options.nix
+++ b/nix/host-modules/hive-c0re/options.nix
@@ -171,21 +171,6 @@
       default = 7000;
       description = "TCP port the hive-c0re dashboard listens on.";
     };
-    operatorPronouns = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.str;
-      default = "she/her";
-      example = "they/them";
-      description = ''
-        Operator pronouns, free text. Threaded into every agent
-        container as the `HIVE_OPERATOR_PRONOUNS` env var; the
-        harness substitutes it into the agent / manager system
-        prompt at boot so claude refers to the operator naturally
-        in third person ("ask her", "tell them", etc.). Changes
-        propagate to running agents on the next `↻ R3BU1LD` —
-        forwards as a meta flake env-var bump, no per-agent
-        approval needed.
-      '';
-    };
     preBuildAgentTemplates = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.bool;
       default = false;
@@ -212,31 +197,6 @@
         store.
       '';
     };
-    contextWindowTokens = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.attrsOf lib.types.int;
-      default = {
-        haiku = 200000;
-        sonnet = 1000000;
-        opus = 1000000;
-      };
-      example = {
-        haiku = 150000;
-        sonnet = 900000;
-      };
-      description = ''
-        Per-model context-window sizes in tokens. Each key is a
-        model-family short name matched case-insensitively as a
-        substring of the active model name at runtime (e.g. `"sonnet"`
-        matches `"claude-sonnet-4-5"`). The defaults cover the known
-        Anthropic families; add entries for new models or override
-        existing ones here to change the window for all agents at once.
-
-        Passed to `hive-c0re serve` as JSON and injected into every
-        container's harness service environment as
-        `HIVE_CONTEXT_WINDOW_TOKENS_<KEY_UPPER>`. Changes propagate
-        on the next `↻ R3BU1LD` — no per-agent approval needed.
-      '';
-    };
 
     modelPrices = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.attrsOf (
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/hive-options-removed.nix b/nix/host-modules/hive-options-removed.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d33315ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/host-modules/hive-options-removed.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Removal shim for four host options: `c0re.operatorPronouns`,
+# `c0re.contextWindowTokens`, `otel.metricIntervalMs` and `otel.debug`.
+#
+# A definition of any of them is ignored and produces a warning, so a host
+# that still sets one keeps evaluating. The agents' system prompt
+# (hive-agent/prompts/system.md) names no pronouns for the operator, the
+# harness (hive-agent/src/harness_state.rs) holds the per-model context
+# windows it uses until a turn reports the model's own, every OTEL exporter
+# exports every 60 seconds (claude at its SDK default, the rest by a fixed
+# constant), and an agent's own config sets
+# `services.hyperhive.agent.otel.debug`.
+#
+# Self-contained and deletable, like ./swarm-peers-removed.nix: one file to
+# remove when the deprecation window closes.
+{ lib, config, ... }:
+let
+  cfg = config.services.hyperhive;
+
+  # `null` is "not set".
+  ignored =
+    type:
+    lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.nullOr type;
+      default = null;
+      visible = false;
+      internal = true;
+      description = "Removed and ignored.";
+    };
+
+  removed =
+    path: value: why:
+    lib.optional (value != null) ''
+      services.hyperhive.${path} is removed and ignored: ${why} Remove this
+      setting.
+    '';
+in
+{
+  options.services.hyperhive = {
+    c0re.operatorPronouns = ignored lib.types.str;
+    c0re.contextWindowTokens = ignored (lib.types.attrsOf lib.types.int);
+    otel.metricIntervalMs = ignored lib.types.ints.positive;
+    otel.debug = ignored lib.types.bool;
+  };
+
+  config.warnings =
+    removed "c0re.operatorPronouns" cfg.c0re.operatorPronouns ''
+      agents' system prompts name no pronouns for the operator and say "the
+      operator". Pronouns will come from a per-operator profile setting, which
+      is an open hyperhive forge issue.
+    ''
+    ++ removed "c0re.contextWindowTokens" cfg.c0re.contextWindowTokens ''
+      the agent harness uses the context window the model reports after each
+      turn, and before the first one its own defaults (haiku 200000, sonnet
+      1000000, opus 1000000 tokens).
+    ''
+    ++ removed "otel.metricIntervalMs" cfg.otel.metricIntervalMs ''
+      claude exports at its SDK default of 60 seconds, and every hyperhive
+      exporter at a fixed 60 seconds.
+    ''
+    ++ removed "otel.debug" cfg.otel.debug ''
+      to see one agent's OTEL SDK diagnostics, set
+      services.hyperhive.agent.otel.debug = true in that agent's own config.
+    '';
+}
diff --git a/nix/host-modules/otel.nix b/nix/host-modules/otel.nix
index dda48021..5ab1e6de 100644
--- a/nix/host-modules/otel.nix
+++ b/nix/host-modules/otel.nix
@@ -158,18 +158,6 @@ in
       '';
     };
 
-    debug = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.bool;
-      default = false;
-      description = ''
-        Emit OTEL SDK diagnostic messages to every agent's stderr by
-        setting `CLAUDE_CODE_OTEL_DIAG_STDERR=1`. Useful when
-        troubleshooting collector connectivity or endpoint config;
-        leave off in normal operation to avoid noise in agent logs.
-        Only meaningful when `enable` is true.
-      '';
-    };
-
     collector.upstreamHeaderName = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.str;
       default = "Authorization";
@@ -306,23 +294,6 @@ in
         copied into the store and never passed in argv.
       '';
     };
-
-    metricIntervalMs = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.ints.positive;
-      default = null;
-      example = 10000;
-      description = ''
-        Metric export interval in milliseconds, set as
-        `OTEL_METRIC_EXPORT_INTERVAL` for every agent. Claude Code's
-        default is 60000 (60s). Leave `null` to use that default.
-
-        Each agent runs claude as a short-lived per-turn process; claude
-        force-flushes metrics on shutdown, so this is not required for
-        metrics to be exported, but a lower value gives more frequent
-        intermediate flushes within long turns. Cosmetic, not a
-        correctness knob.
-      '';
-    };
   };
 
   config = lib.mkIf config.services.hyperhive.otel.enable (
diff --git a/nix/module-eval/agent-otel.nix b/nix/module-eval/agent-otel.nix
index ad7df33b..5d75854b 100644
--- a/nix/module-eval/agent-otel.nix
+++ b/nix/module-eval/agent-otel.nix
@@ -38,11 +38,13 @@ let
 
   # The same agent over the other wire protocol. An exporter's NAME is what
   # selects it, so this is where a defined exporter and the pipeline's
-  # reference to it can drift apart.
+  # reference to it can drift apart. Also an agent config still setting the
+  # removed metric interval.
   agentOtelGrpc = agent {
     otel.enable = true;
     otel.endpoint = agentBridge;
     otel.protocol = "grpc";
+    otel.metricIntervalMs = 10000;
   };
 
   agentNoOtel = shared.agentBare;
@@ -116,6 +118,22 @@ let
         in
         (s.exporters ? otlp) && s.service.pipelines.logs.exporters == [ "otlp" ];
     }
+    {
+      # Control: `agentOtel` sets no interval. The endpoint lookup shows the
+      # environment it reads is the one the OTEL SDKs get.
+      name = "an agent config setting the removed metric interval evaluates, warns, and exports none";
+      ok =
+        let
+          warned = lib.any (
+            w: lib.hasInfix "services.hyperhive.agent.otel.metricIntervalMs is removed and ignored" w
+          );
+          env = machine: machine.systemd.globalEnvironment;
+        in
+        warned agentOtelGrpc.warnings
+        && !(warned agentOtel.warnings)
+        && (env agentOtelGrpc) ? OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT
+        && !((env agentOtelGrpc) ? OTEL_METRIC_EXPORT_INTERVAL);
+    }
   ];
 in
 runGroup "agent-otel" cases
diff --git a/nix/module-eval/core-toggle.nix b/nix/module-eval/core-toggle.nix
index ef766e2c..00b48a83 100644
--- a/nix/module-eval/core-toggle.nix
+++ b/nix/module-eval/core-toggle.nix
@@ -48,8 +48,15 @@ let
   inherit (shared) forgeHere;
 
   # Every hive defaults the agents' queue address to the queue's name, so the
-  # only hive without one is a hive told to have none.
-  noAgentQueue = hiveWithController { deploy.hive-controller.queue.agentNatsUrl = null; };
+  # only hive without one is a hive told to have none. Also the host still
+  # setting the four removed host options; no case on its queue reads them.
+  noAgentQueue = hiveWithController {
+    deploy.hive-controller.queue.agentNatsUrl = null;
+    c0re.operatorPronouns = "they/them";
+    c0re.contextWindowTokens.sonnet = 900000;
+    otel.metricIntervalMs = 10000;
+    otel.debug = true;
+  };
 
   # On the store's host, which mints the runner's store identity.
   withCi = hive {
@@ -237,6 +244,31 @@ let
         in
         !(e ? HIVE_AGENT_NATS_URL) && !(e ? HIVE_AGENT_OIDC_TOKEN_ENDPOINT);
     }
+    {
+      # Control: `bare` sets none of them, and its serve.json carries the
+      # dashboard port, so the key lookup reads a real document.
+      name = "a definition of a removed host option evaluates and warns, and the c0re ones reach no serve.json";
+      ok =
+        let
+          warned =
+            m: option:
+            lib.any (w: lib.hasInfix "services.hyperhive.${option} is removed and ignored" w) m.warnings;
+          options = [
+            "c0re.operatorPronouns"
+            "c0re.contextWindowTokens"
+            "otel.metricIntervalMs"
+            "otel.debug"
+          ];
+          hasKey = m: key: lib.hasInfix "\"${key}\":" m.environment.etc."hyperhive/serve.json".text;
+          noRemovedKeys =
+            m:
+            hasKey m "dashboard_port" && !(hasKey m "operator_pronouns") && !(hasKey m "context_window_tokens");
+        in
+        lib.all (warned noAgentQueue) options
+        && !(lib.any (warned bare) options)
+        && noRemovedKeys noAgentQueue
+        && noRemovedKeys bare;
+    }
     {
       # Where the store is and where the agent is told it is, one agreement
       # spanning two modules. Asserted against the hive's own `BAO_ADDR`
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/vcs_metrics.rs b/swarm-controller/src/vcs_metrics.rs
index a0c5d801..e927b9c2 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/vcs_metrics.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/vcs_metrics.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 //! exporter): blocking OTLP client on the `PeriodicReader`'s own background
 //! thread, `service.name` + `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES` for
 //! the resource, `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT` as the sole enable signal,
-//! `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` for cadence. Recording is
+//! a fixed 60 s export cadence. Recording is
 //! synchronous (`counter.add`, called at the event site) rather than
 //! observable/polled — see `hive-agent::otel_turn_metrics`'s doc comment
 //! for why an occurrence, unlike a live gauge, has nothing to poll between
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ use opentelemetry_otlp::{MetricExporter, Protocol, WithExportConfig, WithHttpCon
 use opentelemetry_sdk::Resource;
 use opentelemetry_sdk::metrics::{PeriodicReader, SdkMeterProvider};
 
-/// Default export cadence when `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS` is
-/// unset. Matches every other OTEL exporter in this tree.
-const DEFAULT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
+/// Export cadence. Matches every other OTEL exporter in this tree.
+const EXPORT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_mins(1);
 
 /// One push delivery, as parsed off the webhook body — just the two fields
 /// this module needs, not a full mirror of Forgejo's push-event schema.
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ pub(super) fn record_push(activity: &PushActivity) {
 
 fn build() -> Option<Instruments> {
     let endpoint = endpoint()?;
-    let interval = interval();
+    let interval = EXPORT_INTERVAL;
     match build_provider(interval) {
         Ok(provider) => {
             tracing::info!(%endpoint, ?interval, "otel vcs-metrics: exporter enabled");
@@ -198,14 +197,6 @@ fn endpoint() -> Option<String> {
         .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
 }
 
-fn interval() -> Duration {
-    std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_METRIC_INTERVAL_MS")
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
-        .filter(|ms| *ms > 0)
-        .map_or(DEFAULT_INTERVAL, Duration::from_millis)
-}
-
 fn resource_attributes() -> Vec<(String, String)> {
     std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES")
         .ok()