diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.test.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.test.tsx
index 9adc0939e7..7bbabfbe4b 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.test.tsx
@@ -100,58 +100,14 @@ describe("ActivationPreview", () => {
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/No recent pull requests yet/i)).toBeTruthy());
   });
 
-  it("shows the enable-advisory action, posts activation, and reflects the enabled state after the round-trip", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: BASE_PREVIEW });
+  it("shows informational (non-actionable) status instead of an activation button when not yet enabled (#6444)", async () => {
+    apiFetch.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, data: BASE_PREVIEW });
     render(<ActivationPreview reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(BASE_PREVIEW.summary)).toBeTruthy());
 
-    const activateButton = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /enable advisory mode/i });
-
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      ok: true,
-      data: {
-        repoFullName: "acme/widgets",
-        reviewCheckMode: "required",
-        checkRunMode: "enabled",
-        linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
-        duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory",
-        qualityGateMode: "advisory",
-      },
-    });
-    // Reload after activation reports the gate is now on — the button should disappear.
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      ok: true,
-      data: { ...BASE_PREVIEW, currentReviewCheckMode: "required", recommendedAction: null },
-    });
-
-    fireEvent.click(activateButton);
-
-    await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(
-        screen.getByText(/Advisory mode enabled\. LoopOver will now surface guidance/i),
-      ).toBeTruthy(),
-    );
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/Advisory mode is already enabled/i)).toBeTruthy());
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: /enable advisory mode/i })).toBeNull();
-
-    const postCall = apiFetch.mock.calls.find(
-      ([, opts]) => (opts as { method?: string })?.method === "POST",
-    );
-    expect(postCall?.[0]).toContain("/v1/repos/acme/widgets/activation");
-  });
-
-  it("surfaces the error message inline when activation fails, without touching the preview data", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: BASE_PREVIEW });
-    render(<ActivationPreview reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(BASE_PREVIEW.summary)).toBeTruthy());
-
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: false, message: "403 Forbidden" });
-
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /enable advisory mode/i }));
-
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText("403 Forbidden")).toBeTruthy());
-    // Still showing the previously-loaded preview, unchanged.
-    expect(screen.getByText(BASE_PREVIEW.summary)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Not yet enabled/i)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(document.body.textContent).toContain("gate.checkMode: required");
   });
 
   it("falls back to a manual owner/repo entry when no repos are registered yet", () => {
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.tsx
index cad5d91a17..cc3c66d232 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.tsx
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/activation-preview.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { CheckCircle2, Loader2, Rocket } from "lucide-react";
+import { CheckCircle2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 
 import { StatusPill, type Status } from "@/components/site/control-primitives";
@@ -34,16 +34,6 @@ type ActivationPreviewResponse = {
   summary: string;
 };
 
-type ActivationResponse = {
-  repoFullName: string;
-  reviewCheckMode: string;
-  linkedIssueGateMode: string;
-  duplicatePrGateMode: string;
-  qualityGateMode: string;
-};
-
-type Message = { kind: "ok" | "err"; text: string };
-
 const SEVERITY_TONE: Record<ActivationSeverity, Status> = {
   info: "info",
   warning: "warn",
@@ -57,10 +47,13 @@ function repoApiBase(repoFullName: string): string | null {
 }
 
 /**
- * One-step maintainer activation demo (#701): loads GET /activation-preview for a repo (deterministic,
- * no AI run) so a newly-installed maintainer sees concrete "here's what LoopOver would have surfaced"
- * evidence, then a single action button posts /activation to turn on advisory mode. Mirrors the
- * AiReviewSettings / MaintainerSettings repo-picker + load/save shape in this same file group.
+ * Maintainer activation demo (#701): loads GET /activation-preview for a repo (deterministic, no AI
+ * run) so a newly-installed maintainer sees concrete "here's what LoopOver would have surfaced"
+ * evidence. Purely informational — reviewCheckMode and every other gate field it reports on are
+ * config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444), so there is no longer a one-click action this
+ * panel can take on the maintainer's behalf; enabling the gate requires editing the repo's own
+ * .loopover.yml. Mirrors the AiReviewSettings / MaintainerSettings repo-picker + load shape in this
+ * same file group.
  */
 export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr: string }> }) {
   const repoOptions = useMemo(() => extractPreviewRepoOptions(reviewability), [reviewability]);
@@ -68,8 +61,6 @@ export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr
   const [preview, setPreview] = useState<ActivationPreviewResponse | null>(null);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
   const [loadError, setLoadError] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
-  const [message, setMessage] = useState<Message | null>(null);
 
   const base = repoApiBase(repoFullName);
   const hasRepos = repoOptions.length > 0;
@@ -81,7 +72,6 @@ export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr
       setLoadError(null);
       return;
     }
-    setMessage(null);
     setLoadError(null);
     setLoading(true);
     const result = await apiFetch<ActivationPreviewResponse>(`${apiBase}/activation-preview`, {
@@ -102,28 +92,6 @@ export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr
     void load();
   }, [load]);
 
-  async function activate() {
-    if (!base) return;
-    setBusy(true);
-    const result = await apiFetch<ActivationResponse>(`${base}/activation`, {
-      method: "POST",
-      label: "Enable advisory mode",
-      credentials: "include",
-      headers: { Accept: "application/json", "Content-Type": "application/json" },
-    });
-    setBusy(false);
-    if (result.ok) {
-      // Reload first — `load()` clears any prior message, so the success message must be set after it settles.
-      await load();
-      setMessage({
-        kind: "ok",
-        text: "Advisory mode enabled. LoopOver will now surface guidance on new PRs.",
-      });
-    } else {
-      setMessage({ kind: "err", text: result.message });
-    }
-  }
-
   return (
     <section
       className="rounded-token border-hairline bg-card p-5"
@@ -135,8 +103,8 @@ export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr
             Instant activation preview
           </h2>
           <p className="mt-1 text-token-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            See what LoopOver would have surfaced on this repo's recent pull requests, then enable
-            advisory mode in one step. Deterministic — never runs AI, never blocks a merge.
+            See what LoopOver would have surfaced on this repo's recent pull requests. Deterministic
+            — never runs AI, never blocks a merge.
           </p>
         </div>
         {preview ? (
@@ -195,35 +163,15 @@ export function ActivationPreview({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr
                 : "Enter an installed repository to preview activation."}
             </p>
           ) : preview ? (
-            <ActivationPreviewBody
-              preview={preview}
-              busy={busy}
-              onActivate={() => void activate()}
-            />
+            <ActivationPreviewBody preview={preview} />
           ) : null}
         </StateBoundary>
       </div>
-
-      <span
-        role="status"
-        aria-live="polite"
-        className={`mt-4 block text-token-xs ${message ? (message.kind === "ok" ? "text-mint" : "text-warning") : "sr-only"}`}
-      >
-        {message?.text ?? ""}
-      </span>
     </section>
   );
 }
 
-function ActivationPreviewBody({
-  preview,
-  busy,
-  onActivate,
-}: {
-  preview: ActivationPreviewResponse;
-  busy: boolean;
-  onActivate: () => void;
-}) {
+function ActivationPreviewBody({ preview }: { preview: ActivationPreviewResponse }) {
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4">
       <p className="text-token-sm text-foreground/90">{preview.summary}</p>
@@ -297,16 +245,11 @@ function ActivationPreviewBody({
 
       <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3">
         {preview.recommendedAction === "enable_advisory" ? (
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            disabled={busy}
-            aria-busy={busy}
-            onClick={onActivate}
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-token border border-mint/40 bg-mint px-3 py-2 text-token-xs font-medium text-primary-foreground transition-all hover:brightness-110 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50"
-          >
-            {busy ? <Loader2 className="size-3.5 animate-spin" /> : <Rocket className="size-3.5" />}
-            Enable advisory mode
-          </button>
+          <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-token border-hairline bg-background/40 px-3 py-2 text-token-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            Not yet enabled — set <code className="font-mono">gate.checkMode: required</code> (or{" "}
+            <code className="font-mono">gate.enabled: true</code>) in this repo's{" "}
+            <code className="font-mono">.loopover.yml</code> to turn on advisory mode.
+          </span>
         ) : (
           <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-token border border-success/35 bg-success/10 px-3 py-2 text-token-xs text-success">
             <CheckCircle2 className="size-3.5" /> Advisory mode is already enabled
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/ai-review-settings.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/ai-review-settings.tsx
index cdfa6416d6..b6c9a193bd 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/ai-review-settings.tsx
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/ai-review-settings.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ import { extractPreviewRepoOptions, splitRepoFullName } from "@/lib/maintainer-s
 type AiReviewMode = "off" | "advisory" | "block";
 type AiProvider = "anthropic" | "openai";
 
+const MODE_COPY: Record<AiReviewMode, string> = {
+  off: "off — no AI review",
+  advisory: "advisory — AI notes only",
+  block: "block — also blocks on a dual-model consensus defect",
+};
+
 type RepoSettingsResponse = {
   aiReviewMode?: AiReviewMode;
   aiReviewByok?: boolean;
@@ -33,8 +39,11 @@ function repoApiBase(repoFullName: string): string | null {
 const JSON_HEADERS = { Accept: "application/json", "Content-Type": "application/json" };
 
 /**
- * Maintainer self-serve AI review + BYOK key config. The provider key is write-only: it POSTs to the
- * encrypted key endpoint and only the configured/last4 status is ever read back — the key is never rendered.
+ * Maintainer AI review status + self-serve BYOK key config. mode/byok/provider/model are config-as-code
+ * only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- read-only here, sourced from GET /settings (manifest-resolved),
+ * with guidance to edit the repo's own .loopover.yml gate.aiReview.* block to change them. The provider
+ * key management (still fully DB-backed) is unaffected: it POSTs to the encrypted key endpoint and only
+ * the configured/last4 status is ever read back — the key is never rendered.
  */
 export function AiReviewSettings({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr: string }> }) {
   const repoOptions = useMemo(() => extractPreviewRepoOptions(reviewability), [reviewability]);
@@ -83,27 +92,6 @@ export function AiReviewSettings({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr:
     void load();
   }, [load]);
 
-  async function saveConfig() {
-    if (!base) {
-      setMessage({ kind: "err", text: "Enter a repository as owner/repo." });
-      return;
-    }
-    setBusy(true);
-    const result = await apiFetch<RepoSettingsResponse>(`${base}/ai-review`, {
-      method: "PUT",
-      label: "Save AI review config",
-      credentials: "include",
-      headers: JSON_HEADERS,
-      body: JSON.stringify({ mode, byok, provider, model: model.trim() || null }),
-    });
-    setBusy(false);
-    setMessage(
-      result.ok
-        ? { kind: "ok", text: "AI review configuration saved." }
-        : { kind: "err", text: result.message },
-    );
-  }
-
   async function saveKey() {
     if (!base) return;
     const trimmed = keyInput.trim();
@@ -176,9 +164,11 @@ export function AiReviewSettings({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr:
             AI review &amp; BYOK
           </h2>
           <p className="mt-1 text-token-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            Uses the operator's default reviewer by default. Bring your own Anthropic/OpenAI key for
-            a frontier-quality advisory write-up — your key, your provider account. Consensus
-            blocking always uses the default reviewer and only applies to confirmed contributors.
+            Mode, BYOK, provider, and model are set in this repo's own{" "}
+            <code className="font-mono">.loopover.yml</code> (
+            <code className="font-mono">gate.aiReview.*</code>) now — shown below as read-only
+            status. Consensus blocking always uses the default reviewer and only applies to
+            confirmed contributors.
           </p>
         </div>
         <StatusPill status={mode === "off" ? "info" : mode === "block" ? "warn" : "ready"}>
@@ -210,66 +200,26 @@ export function AiReviewSettings({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr:
             ) : null}
           </label>
 
-          <label className="block">
-            <span className={labelClass}>Mode</span>
-            <select
-              value={mode}
-              onChange={(event) => setMode(event.target.value as AiReviewMode)}
-              className={fieldClass}
-            >
-              <option value="off">off — no AI review</option>
-              <option value="advisory">advisory — AI notes only</option>
-              <option value="block">block — also block on a dual-model consensus defect</option>
-            </select>
-          </label>
-
-          <label className="flex items-center gap-2 text-token-sm">
-            <input
-              type="checkbox"
-              checked={byok}
-              onChange={(event) => setByok(event.target.checked)}
-              className="size-4 accent-mint"
-            />
-            <span>Use my own provider key (BYOK) for the advisory write-up</span>
-          </label>
-
           <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
-            <label className="block">
+            <div>
+              <span className={labelClass}>Mode</span>
+              <p className="mt-1 text-token-sm text-foreground/90">{MODE_COPY[mode]}</p>
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <span className={labelClass}>BYOK</span>
+              <p className="mt-1 text-token-sm text-foreground/90">{byok ? "on" : "off"}</p>
+            </div>
+            <div>
               <span className={labelClass}>Provider</span>
-              <select
-                value={provider}
-                onChange={(event) => setProvider(event.target.value as AiProvider)}
-                className={fieldClass}
-              >
-                <option value="anthropic">Anthropic (Claude)</option>
-                <option value="openai">OpenAI (GPT)</option>
-              </select>
-            </label>
-            <label className="block">
-              <span className={labelClass}>Model (optional)</span>
-              <input
-                value={model}
-                onChange={(event) => setModel(event.target.value)}
-                placeholder="default"
-                className={fieldClass}
-              />
-            </label>
+              <p className="mt-1 text-token-sm text-foreground/90">
+                {provider === "anthropic" ? "Anthropic (Claude)" : "OpenAI (GPT)"}
+              </p>
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <span className={labelClass}>Model</span>
+              <p className="mt-1 text-token-sm text-foreground/90">{model || "default"}</p>
+            </div>
           </div>
-
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            disabled={busy || loading || !base}
-            aria-busy={busy}
-            onClick={() => void saveConfig()}
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-token border border-mint/40 bg-mint px-3 py-2 text-token-xs font-medium text-primary-foreground transition-all hover:brightness-110 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50"
-          >
-            {busy || loading ? (
-              <Loader2 className="size-3.5 animate-spin" />
-            ) : (
-              <Save className="size-3.5" />
-            )}
-            {loading ? "Loading…" : "Save configuration"}
-          </button>
         </div>
 
         <div className="space-y-4 rounded-token border-hairline bg-background/40 p-4">
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-confirm-dialog.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-confirm-dialog.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 6bde09e146..0000000000
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-confirm-dialog.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-import {
-  AlertDialog,
-  AlertDialogAction,
-  AlertDialogCancel,
-  AlertDialogContent,
-  AlertDialogDescription,
-  AlertDialogFooter,
-  AlertDialogHeader,
-  AlertDialogTitle,
-} from "@/components/ui/alert-dialog";
-import {
-  listRampGateTransitions,
-  RAMP_GATE_DISPLAY_LABELS,
-  type GateRampSettingsSlice,
-} from "@/lib/gate-ramp";
-
-type GateRampConfirmDialogProps = {
-  open: boolean;
-  onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void;
-  repoFullName: string;
-  settings: GateRampSettingsSlice;
-  busy: boolean;
-  onConfirm: () => void;
-};
-
-/**
- * Confirmation gate before moving deterministic rules from advisory to blocking (#2218). Lists the exact
- * sub-gates that will change so maintainers know what becomes merge-blocking.
- */
-export function GateRampConfirmDialog({
-  open,
-  onOpenChange,
-  repoFullName,
-  settings,
-  busy,
-  onConfirm,
-}: GateRampConfirmDialogProps) {
-  const transitions = listRampGateTransitions(settings);
-
-  return (
-    <AlertDialog open={open} onOpenChange={onOpenChange}>
-      <AlertDialogContent>
-        <AlertDialogHeader>
-          <AlertDialogTitle>Enable blocking gate rules?</AlertDialogTitle>
-          <AlertDialogDescription asChild>
-            <div className="space-y-3 text-left text-token-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              <p>
-                This updates <span className="font-mono text-foreground/90">{repoFullName}</span>{" "}
-                via the same settings mutation as the repository settings editor. Pull requests that
-                trip these gates may be blocked from merging once branch protection requires the
-                LoopOver check.
-              </p>
-              {transitions.length > 0 ? (
-                <ul className="space-y-1 rounded-token border-hairline bg-muted/20 px-3 py-2 font-mono text-token-2xs">
-                  {transitions.map((entry) => (
-                    <li key={entry.key}>
-                      {RAMP_GATE_DISPLAY_LABELS[entry.key]}: {entry.from} → {entry.to}
-                    </li>
-                  ))}
-                </ul>
-              ) : (
-                <p>All ramp gates are already blocking.</p>
-              )}
-            </div>
-          </AlertDialogDescription>
-        </AlertDialogHeader>
-        <AlertDialogFooter>
-          <AlertDialogCancel disabled={busy}>Cancel</AlertDialogCancel>
-          <AlertDialogAction
-            disabled={busy || transitions.length === 0}
-            onClick={(event) => {
-              event.preventDefault();
-              onConfirm();
-            }}
-          >
-            {busy ? "Saving…" : "Enable blocking"}
-          </AlertDialogAction>
-        </AlertDialogFooter>
-      </AlertDialogContent>
-    </AlertDialog>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.test.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.test.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 31d635deac..0000000000
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.test.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,169 +0,0 @@
-import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-
-const { apiFetch } = vi.hoisted(() => ({ apiFetch: vi.fn() }));
-vi.mock("@/lib/api/request", () => ({ apiFetch: (...args: unknown[]) => apiFetch(...args) }));
-vi.mock("@/lib/api/origin", () => ({ getApiOrigin: () => "https://api.test" }));
-
-const { toastSuccess, toastError } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-  toastSuccess: vi.fn(),
-  toastError: vi.fn(),
-}));
-vi.mock("sonner", () => ({
-  toast: {
-    success: (...args: unknown[]) => toastSuccess(...args),
-    error: (...args: unknown[]) => toastError(...args),
-  },
-}));
-
-import { GateRampControl } from "@/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control";
-
-const REVIEWABILITY = [{ pr: "acme/widgets#1" }];
-
-const ADVISORY_SETTINGS = {
-  reviewCheckMode: "required" as const,
-  gatePack: "gittensor" as const,
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-  qualityGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-  qualityGateMinScore: null,
-  mergeReadinessGateMode: "off" as const,
-  manifestPolicyGateMode: "off" as const,
-  slopGateMode: "off" as const,
-  slopGateMinScore: null,
-  slopAiAdvisory: false,
-  autoLabelEnabled: true,
-  requireLinkedIssue: false,
-  commandAuthorization: {},
-  autonomy: {},
-  agentPaused: false,
-  agentDryRun: false,
-};
-
-const BLOCKING_SETTINGS = {
-  ...ADVISORY_SETTINGS,
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "block" as const,
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "block" as const,
-  qualityGateMode: "block" as const,
-};
-
-describe("GateRampControl (#2218)", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    apiFetch.mockReset();
-    toastSuccess.mockReset();
-    toastError.mockReset();
-  });
-
-  it("loads settings and shows advisory phase with ramp switch off", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, data: ADVISORY_SETTINGS });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/Advisory/i)).toBeTruthy());
-    const rampSwitch = screen.getByRole("switch", { name: /blocking enforcement/i });
-    expect(rampSwitch.getAttribute("aria-checked")).toBe("false");
-    expect(apiFetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining("/v1/repos/acme/widgets/settings"),
-      expect.objectContaining({ label: "Repository settings" }),
-    );
-  });
-
-  it("opens confirm on switch, saves blocking ramp on confirm, and toasts success", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: ADVISORY_SETTINGS });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toBeTruthy());
-
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: BLOCKING_SETTINGS });
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("switch"));
-    expect(screen.getByText(/Enable blocking gate rules/i)).toBeTruthy();
-
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Enable blocking$/i }));
-
-    await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(toastSuccess).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        "Blocking mode enabled",
-        expect.objectContaining({
-          description: expect.stringContaining("can now block merges"),
-        }),
-      ),
-    );
-
-    const putCall = apiFetch.mock.calls.find(
-      ([, opts]) => (opts as { method?: string })?.method === "PUT",
-    );
-    expect(putCall?.[0]).toContain("/v1/repos/acme/widgets/settings");
-    const body = JSON.parse(String((putCall?.[1] as { body?: string })?.body ?? "{}"));
-    expect(body.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("block");
-    expect(body.duplicatePrGateMode).toBe("block");
-    expect(body.qualityGateMode).toBe("block");
-    // gittensorLabel moved off the dashboard (Batch B, loopover#6443) -- no longer in the PUT payload.
-    expect(body.gittensorLabel).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-
-  it("closes confirm without saving when cancel is clicked", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: ADVISORY_SETTINGS });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toBeTruthy());
-
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("switch"));
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /cancel/i }));
-
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText(/Enable blocking gate rules/i)).toBeNull());
-    expect(
-      apiFetch.mock.calls.filter(([, opts]) => (opts as { method?: string })?.method === "PUT"),
-    ).toHaveLength(0);
-  });
-
-  it("toasts an error when the blocking ramp save fails", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, data: ADVISORY_SETTINGS });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toBeTruthy());
-
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("switch"));
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: false, message: "403 Forbidden" });
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Enable blocking$/i }));
-
-    await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(toastError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        "Could not enable blocking",
-        expect.objectContaining({ description: "403 Forbidden" }),
-      ),
-    );
-    expect(toastSuccess).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it("disables the switch when the gate is inactive (reviewCheckMode disabled)", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValue({
-      ok: true,
-      data: { ...ADVISORY_SETTINGS, reviewCheckMode: "disabled" },
-    });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/Gate off/i)).toBeTruthy());
-    expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toHaveProperty("disabled", true);
-  });
-
-  it("shows blocking phase with switch on and disabled when already ramped", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, data: BLOCKING_SETTINGS });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-
-    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/Blocking/i)).toBeTruthy());
-    const rampSwitch = screen.getByRole("switch");
-    expect(rampSwitch.getAttribute("aria-checked")).toBe("true");
-    expect(rampSwitch).toHaveProperty("disabled", true);
-  });
-
-  it("shows a no-repos hint and skips the load call when reviewability is empty", () => {
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={[]} />);
-    expect(screen.getByText(/Enter an installed repository to manage the gate ramp/i)).toBeTruthy();
-    expect(apiFetch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it("surfaces the load error via StateBoundary when the settings fetch fails", async () => {
-    apiFetch.mockResolvedValue({ ok: false, message: "500 Internal Server Error" });
-    render(<GateRampControl reviewability={REVIEWABILITY} />);
-
-    await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(screen.getByText(/Couldn't load repository settings/i)).toBeTruthy(),
-    );
-  });
-});
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index cc2d48e546..0000000000
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,239 +0,0 @@
-import { Loader2, ShieldAlert } from "lucide-react";
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useId, useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import { toast } from "sonner";
-
-import { StatusPill } from "@/components/site/control-primitives";
-import { GateRampConfirmDialog } from "@/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-confirm-dialog";
-import { StateBoundary } from "@/components/site/state-views";
-import { Switch } from "@/components/ui/switch";
-import { apiFetch } from "@/lib/api/request";
-import { getApiOrigin } from "@/lib/api/origin";
-import {
-  buildBlockingRampPatch,
-  summarizeGateRamp,
-  type GateRampSettingsSlice,
-} from "@/lib/gate-ramp";
-import {
-  buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload,
-  type MaintainerSettingsEditable,
-} from "@/lib/maintainer-settings-editable";
-import { extractPreviewRepoOptions, splitRepoFullName } from "@/lib/maintainer-settings-preview";
-
-function repoApiBase(repoFullName: string): string | null {
-  const target = splitRepoFullName(repoFullName);
-  if (!target) return null;
-  return `${getApiOrigin().replace(/\/$/, "")}/v1/repos/${encodeURIComponent(target.owner)}/${encodeURIComponent(target.repo)}`;
-}
-
-const JSON_HEADERS = { Accept: "application/json", "Content-Type": "application/json" };
-const FIELD_CLASS =
-  "mt-1 min-h-10 w-full rounded-token border border-border bg-background/70 px-3 py-2 font-mono text-token-sm text-foreground outline-none transition-colors focus:border-mint";
-const LABEL_CLASS = "font-mono text-token-2xs uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground";
-
-function normalizeLoadedSettings(data: MaintainerSettingsEditable): MaintainerSettingsEditable {
-  return {
-    ...data,
-    autonomy: data.autonomy ?? {},
-    agentPaused: data.agentPaused ?? false,
-    agentDryRun: data.agentDryRun ?? false,
-  };
-}
-
-/**
- * One-click advisory → blocking ramp for the maintainer onboarding surface (#2218). Loads GET /settings,
- * reflects the current ramp phase, and on confirm merges the blocking patch through PUT /settings (same path
- * as maintainer-settings.tsx). AlertDialog gates the destructive flip; sonner toasts report save outcomes.
- */
-export function GateRampControl({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ pr: string }> }) {
-  const repoOptions = useMemo(() => extractPreviewRepoOptions(reviewability), [reviewability]);
-  const [repoFullName, setRepoFullName] = useState(repoOptions[0] ?? "");
-  const [settings, setSettings] = useState<MaintainerSettingsEditable | null>(null);
-  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
-  const [loadError, setLoadError] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
-  const [confirmOpen, setConfirmOpen] = useState(false);
-
-  const switchId = useId();
-  const base = repoApiBase(repoFullName);
-  const hasRepos = repoOptions.length > 0;
-
-  const rampSlice: GateRampSettingsSlice | null = settings
-    ? {
-        reviewCheckMode: settings.reviewCheckMode,
-        linkedIssueGateMode: settings.linkedIssueGateMode,
-        duplicatePrGateMode: settings.duplicatePrGateMode,
-        qualityGateMode: settings.qualityGateMode,
-      }
-    : null;
-
-  const summary = rampSlice ? summarizeGateRamp(rampSlice) : null;
-
-  const load = useCallback(async () => {
-    const apiBase = repoApiBase(repoFullName);
-    if (!apiBase) {
-      setSettings(null);
-      setLoadError(null);
-      return;
-    }
-    setLoadError(null);
-    setLoading(true);
-    const result = await apiFetch<MaintainerSettingsEditable>(`${apiBase}/settings`, {
-      label: "Repository settings",
-      credentials: "include",
-      silentStatus: true,
-    });
-    setSettings(result.ok ? normalizeLoadedSettings(result.data) : null);
-    if (!result.ok) setLoadError(result.message);
-    setLoading(false);
-  }, [repoFullName]);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    void load();
-  }, [load]);
-
-  async function saveBlockingRamp() {
-    if (!base || !settings) return;
-    setBusy(true);
-    const payload = buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload(settings, buildBlockingRampPatch());
-    const result = await apiFetch<MaintainerSettingsEditable>(`${base}/settings`, {
-      method: "PUT",
-      label: "Ramp to blocking",
-      credentials: "include",
-      headers: JSON_HEADERS,
-      body: JSON.stringify(payload),
-    });
-    setBusy(false);
-    setConfirmOpen(false);
-    if (result.ok) {
-      setSettings(normalizeLoadedSettings(result.data));
-      toast.success("Blocking mode enabled", {
-        description: "Linked-issue, duplicate-PR, and quality gates can now block merges.",
-      });
-    } else {
-      toast.error("Could not enable blocking", { description: result.message });
-    }
-  }
-
-  function handleSwitchChange(checked: boolean) {
-    if (!summary?.canRampToBlocking || !checked) return;
-    setConfirmOpen(true);
-  }
-
-  const switchChecked = summary?.isBlocking ?? false;
-  const switchDisabled =
-    busy || loading || !summary || !summary.canRampToBlocking || summary.isBlocking;
-
-  return (
-    <section
-      className="rounded-token border-hairline bg-card p-5"
-      aria-labelledby="gate-ramp-control-title"
-    >
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-end justify-between gap-3">
-        <div>
-          <h2 id="gate-ramp-control-title" className="font-display text-token-lg font-semibold">
-            Gate ramp control
-          </h2>
-          <p className="mt-1 text-token-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            After advisory mode is on, ramp deterministic gate rules to blocking in one action —
-            with confirmation before merges can be held.
-          </p>
-        </div>
-        {summary ? (
-          <StatusPill
-            status={summary.isBlocking ? "blocked" : summary.phase === "advisory" ? "info" : "warn"}
-          >
-            {summary.label}
-          </StatusPill>
-        ) : null}
-      </div>
-
-      <label className="mt-4 block max-w-sm">
-        <span className={LABEL_CLASS}>Repository</span>
-        <input
-          value={repoFullName}
-          onChange={(event) => setRepoFullName(event.target.value)}
-          list="gate-ramp-repos"
-          placeholder="owner/repo"
-          className={FIELD_CLASS}
-        />
-        <datalist id="gate-ramp-repos">
-          {repoOptions.map((repo) => (
-            <option key={repo} value={repo} />
-          ))}
-        </datalist>
-        {!hasRepos ? (
-          <span className="mt-1 block text-token-2xs text-muted-foreground">
-            No registered repositories detected yet — type an installed{" "}
-            <code className="font-mono">owner/repo</code>.
-          </span>
-        ) : null}
-      </label>
-
-      <div className="mt-6">
-        <StateBoundary
-          isLoading={Boolean(base) && loading}
-          isError={Boolean(base) && !loading && loadError !== null}
-          isEmpty={false}
-          onRetry={load}
-          onRefresh={load}
-          loadingTitle="Loading gate ramp state…"
-          errorTitle="Couldn't load repository settings"
-          errorDescription={loadError ?? undefined}
-        >
-          {!base ? (
-            <p className="text-token-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              {hasRepos
-                ? "Settings are unavailable for this repository."
-                : "Enter an installed repository to manage the gate ramp."}
-            </p>
-          ) : summary && settings ? (
-            <div className="space-y-4">
-              <p className="text-token-sm text-foreground/90">{summary.description}</p>
-
-              <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-4 rounded-token border-hairline bg-background/40 px-4 py-3">
-                <div className="flex min-w-0 items-start gap-3">
-                  <ShieldAlert className="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 text-warning" aria-hidden />
-                  <div>
-                    <label htmlFor={switchId} className="text-token-sm font-medium text-foreground">
-                      Blocking enforcement
-                    </label>
-                    <p className="mt-0.5 text-token-2xs text-muted-foreground">
-                      {summary.canRampToBlocking
-                        ? "Off — advisory only. Turn on to block merges when gate findings fire."
-                        : summary.isBlocking
-                          ? "On — deterministic gates are blocking."
-                          : "Unavailable until advisory mode is enabled above."}
-                    </p>
-                  </div>
-                </div>
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                  {busy ? (
-                    <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" aria-hidden />
-                  ) : null}
-                  <Switch
-                    id={switchId}
-                    checked={switchChecked}
-                    disabled={switchDisabled}
-                    aria-busy={busy}
-                    onCheckedChange={handleSwitchChange}
-                  />
-                </div>
-              </div>
-            </div>
-          ) : null}
-        </StateBoundary>
-      </div>
-
-      {settings && rampSlice ? (
-        <GateRampConfirmDialog
-          open={confirmOpen}
-          onOpenChange={setConfirmOpen}
-          repoFullName={repoFullName}
-          settings={rampSlice}
-          busy={busy}
-          onConfirm={() => void saveBlockingRamp()}
-        />
-      ) : null}
-    </section>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-panel.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-panel.tsx
index 6b4278e371..29c41aea08 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-panel.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import { ContributorQualityTable } from "@/components/site/app-panels/contributo
 import type { MaintainerTopContributor } from "@/components/site/app-panels/contributor-quality-table-model";
 import { GateOutcomeCard } from "@/components/site/app-panels/gate-outcome-card";
 import type { GateOutcomeCardData } from "@/components/site/app-panels/gate-outcome-card-model";
-import { GateRampControl } from "@/components/site/app-panels/gate-ramp-control";
 import {
   McpToolUsageCard,
   type McpToolUsageSummary,
@@ -456,7 +455,10 @@ function MaintainerDashboardView({
 
           <AmsMinerCohortCard reviewability={data.reviewability} />
 
-          <GateRampControl reviewability={data.reviewability} />
+          {/* GateRampControl (advisory -> blocking one-click ramp) was removed here: it ramped
+              linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode (plus reviewCheckMode for its
+              on/off check) all config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- writing them via
+              PUT /settings is a silent no-op, so the switch had nothing left to do. */}
 
           <SurfacePreview
             reviewability={data.reviewability}
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-settings.tsx b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-settings.tsx
index 606bf0ac15..9ca7518e48 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-settings.tsx
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/components/site/app-panels/maintainer-settings.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { FileCog, Loader2, Save } from "lucide-react";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 
-import { StatusPill } from "@/components/site/control-primitives";
 import { apiFetch } from "@/lib/api/request";
 import { getApiOrigin } from "@/lib/api/origin";
 import { extractPreviewRepoOptions, splitRepoFullName } from "@/lib/maintainer-settings-preview";
@@ -68,19 +67,10 @@ type NumberFieldDef = {
 };
 type FieldDef = SelectFieldDef | ToggleFieldDef | NumberFieldDef;
 
+// reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode/qualityGateMinScore removed
+// (#6444) -- config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.* block now; there's no DB-backed value left
+// for this editor to show or write.
 const GATE_FIELDS: FieldDef[] = [
-  {
-    key: "reviewCheckMode",
-    label: "Review agent check",
-    kind: "select",
-    // "visible" (publishes but never required in branch protection) is deliberately not offered here --
-    // this toggle keeps its historical off/enabled shape; set .loopover.yml gate.checkMode: visible directly
-    // for that finer-grained mode.
-    options: [
-      ["disabled", "off"],
-      ["required", "enabled"],
-    ],
-  },
   {
     key: "gatePack",
     label: "Policy pack",
@@ -96,20 +86,6 @@ const GATE_FIELDS: FieldDef[] = [
     kind: "select",
     options: GATE_MODE_OPTIONS,
   },
-  { key: "linkedIssueGateMode", label: "Linked issue", kind: "select", options: GATE_MODE_OPTIONS },
-  { key: "duplicatePrGateMode", label: "Duplicate PR", kind: "select", options: GATE_MODE_OPTIONS },
-  {
-    key: "qualityGateMode",
-    label: "Quality / readiness",
-    kind: "select",
-    options: GATE_MODE_OPTIONS,
-  },
-  {
-    key: "qualityGateMinScore",
-    label: "Quality min score",
-    kind: "number",
-    placeholder: "default",
-  },
   {
     key: "manifestPolicyGateMode",
     label: "Focus-manifest policy",
@@ -236,14 +212,12 @@ export function MaintainerSettings({ reviewability }: { reviewability: Array<{ p
           </h2>
           <p className="mt-1 text-token-xs text-muted-foreground">
             Configure exactly what LoopOver enforces and surfaces on this repo — gate modes,
-            anti-slop, labels, public output, and who can run each command. Changes are audited.
+            anti-slop, labels, public output, and who can run each command. Changes are audited. The
+            review-agent check itself (on/off) is config-as-code only now — set{" "}
+            <code className="font-mono">gate.checkMode</code> in this repo&apos;s{" "}
+            <code className="font-mono">.loopover.yml</code>.
           </p>
         </div>
-        {settings ? (
-          <StatusPill status={settings.reviewCheckMode === "disabled" ? "info" : "ready"}>
-            gate {settings.reviewCheckMode === "disabled" ? "off" : "enabled"}
-          </StatusPill>
-        ) : null}
       </div>
 
       <label className="mt-4 block max-w-sm">
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.test.ts b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 7dff6d7c6d..0000000000
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-
-import {
-  buildBlockingRampPatch,
-  deriveGateRampPhase,
-  isBlockingRampComplete,
-  isGateRampActive,
-  listRampGateTransitions,
-  summarizeGateRamp,
-} from "@/lib/gate-ramp";
-
-const ADVISORY_SLICE = {
-  reviewCheckMode: "required" as const,
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-  qualityGateMode: "advisory" as const,
-};
-
-const BLOCKING_SLICE = {
-  ...ADVISORY_SLICE,
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "block" as const,
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "block" as const,
-  qualityGateMode: "block" as const,
-};
-
-describe("gate-ramp helpers (#2218)", () => {
-  it("treats reviewCheckMode disabled as inactive", () => {
-    const disabled = { ...ADVISORY_SLICE, reviewCheckMode: "disabled" as const };
-    expect(isGateRampActive(disabled)).toBe(false);
-    expect(deriveGateRampPhase(disabled)).toBe("inactive");
-  });
-
-  it("treats reviewCheckMode visible or required as active", () => {
-    expect(isGateRampActive(ADVISORY_SLICE)).toBe(true);
-    expect(isGateRampActive({ ...ADVISORY_SLICE, reviewCheckMode: "visible" })).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("detects advisory and blocking phases from the ramp trio", () => {
-    expect(deriveGateRampPhase(ADVISORY_SLICE)).toBe("advisory");
-    expect(isBlockingRampComplete(ADVISORY_SLICE)).toBe(false);
-    expect(deriveGateRampPhase(BLOCKING_SLICE)).toBe("blocking");
-    expect(isBlockingRampComplete(BLOCKING_SLICE)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("summarizeGateRamp exposes ramp affordances only in advisory phase", () => {
-    const inactive = summarizeGateRamp({ ...ADVISORY_SLICE, reviewCheckMode: "disabled" });
-    expect(inactive.label).toBe("Gate off");
-    expect(inactive.canRampToBlocking).toBe(false);
-    expect(inactive.isBlocking).toBe(false);
-
-    const advisory = summarizeGateRamp(ADVISORY_SLICE);
-    expect(advisory.label).toBe("Advisory");
-    expect(advisory.canRampToBlocking).toBe(true);
-    expect(advisory.isBlocking).toBe(false);
-
-    const blocking = summarizeGateRamp(BLOCKING_SLICE);
-    expect(blocking.label).toBe("Blocking");
-    expect(blocking.canRampToBlocking).toBe(false);
-    expect(blocking.isBlocking).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("buildBlockingRampPatch flips the deterministic trio to block", () => {
-    expect(buildBlockingRampPatch()).toEqual({
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "block",
-      duplicatePrGateMode: "block",
-      qualityGateMode: "block",
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("listRampGateTransitions lists all three when none are blocking yet", () => {
-    const transitions = listRampGateTransitions(ADVISORY_SLICE);
-    expect(transitions).toHaveLength(3);
-    expect(transitions).toEqual([
-      { key: "linkedIssueGateMode", from: "advisory", to: "block" },
-      { key: "duplicatePrGateMode", from: "advisory", to: "block" },
-      { key: "qualityGateMode", from: "advisory", to: "block" },
-    ]);
-  });
-
-  it("listRampGateTransitions omits gates already at the target mode", () => {
-    const mixed = { ...ADVISORY_SLICE, duplicatePrGateMode: "block" as const };
-    const transitions = listRampGateTransitions(mixed);
-    expect(transitions).toHaveLength(2);
-    expect(transitions.map((t) => t.key)).toEqual(["linkedIssueGateMode", "qualityGateMode"]);
-  });
-
-  it("listRampGateTransitions is empty once every gate is already blocking", () => {
-    expect(listRampGateTransitions(BLOCKING_SLICE)).toEqual([]);
-  });
-});
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.ts b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f82097df6..0000000000
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/gate-ramp.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,111 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Advisory → blocking ramp helpers for the maintainer onboarding surface (#2218). Mirrors the deterministic
- * gate trio that `ActivationPreview`'s POST /activation enables in advisory mode; blocking ramps those same
- * fields to `block` via the existing PUT /settings merge path (maintainer-settings.tsx).
- */
-
-import type { GateMode } from "@/lib/maintainer-settings-editable";
-
-export type { GateMode };
-
-/** The three deterministic sub-gates flipped together during the ramp. */
-export const RAMP_DETERMINISTIC_GATE_KEYS = [
-  "linkedIssueGateMode",
-  "duplicatePrGateMode",
-  "qualityGateMode",
-] as const;
-
-export type RampDeterministicGateKey = (typeof RAMP_DETERMINISTIC_GATE_KEYS)[number];
-
-export type GateRampSettingsSlice = {
-  // #4618/#5373: reviewCheckMode is the sole writable authority for whether the check-run publishes at
-  // all (the "disabled" | "visible" | "required" trio) -- the prior computed gateCheckMode field this
-  // helper set once mirrored has since been removed entirely, so ramp activity is gated on this alone.
-  reviewCheckMode: "required" | "visible" | "disabled";
-} & Record<RampDeterministicGateKey, GateMode>;
-
-export type GateRampPhase = "inactive" | "advisory" | "blocking";
-
-export type GateRampSummary = {
-  phase: GateRampPhase;
-  /** Human label for the ramp pill (inactive / advisory / blocking). */
-  label: string;
-  /** Short helper copy under the switch. */
-  description: string;
-  /** Whether the maintainer can attempt the advisory → blocking transition. */
-  canRampToBlocking: boolean;
-  /** Whether blocking is already fully engaged for the ramp trio. */
-  isBlocking: boolean;
-};
-
-const PHASE_LABEL: Record<GateRampPhase, string> = {
-  inactive: "Gate off",
-  advisory: "Advisory",
-  blocking: "Blocking",
-};
-
-const PHASE_DESCRIPTION: Record<GateRampPhase, string> = {
-  inactive:
-    "Enable advisory mode in the activation preview above before ramping deterministic rules to blocking.",
-  advisory:
-    "Deterministic linked-issue, duplicate-PR, and quality gates surface guidance without blocking merges. Flip to blocking when you are ready to enforce.",
-  blocking:
-    "Linked-issue, duplicate-PR, and quality gates can block merges when findings fire. Re-tune individual gates in repository settings below.",
-};
-
-/** Whether the LoopOver review-agent check is actively publishing at all. */
-export function isGateRampActive(settings: GateRampSettingsSlice): boolean {
-  return settings.reviewCheckMode !== "disabled";
-}
-
-/** True when every ramp deterministic sub-gate is set to block. */
-export function isBlockingRampComplete(settings: GateRampSettingsSlice): boolean {
-  return RAMP_DETERMINISTIC_GATE_KEYS.every((key) => settings[key] === "block");
-}
-
-/** Derive the maintainer-facing ramp phase from loaded repository settings. */
-export function deriveGateRampPhase(settings: GateRampSettingsSlice): GateRampPhase {
-  if (!isGateRampActive(settings)) return "inactive";
-  if (isBlockingRampComplete(settings)) return "blocking";
-  return "advisory";
-}
-
-export function summarizeGateRamp(settings: GateRampSettingsSlice): GateRampSummary {
-  const phase = deriveGateRampPhase(settings);
-  const isBlocking = phase === "blocking";
-  return {
-    phase,
-    label: PHASE_LABEL[phase],
-    description: PHASE_DESCRIPTION[phase],
-    canRampToBlocking: phase === "advisory",
-    isBlocking,
-  };
-}
-
-/** Patch applied on confirm: only the ramp trio moves to block; everything else is preserved by PUT merge. */
-export function buildBlockingRampPatch(): Pick<GateRampSettingsSlice, RampDeterministicGateKey> {
-  return {
-    linkedIssueGateMode: "block",
-    duplicatePrGateMode: "block",
-    qualityGateMode: "block",
-  };
-}
-
-/** List gate keys that would change when ramping (for confirm-dialog copy). */
-export function listRampGateTransitions(
-  settings: GateRampSettingsSlice,
-): Array<{ key: RampDeterministicGateKey; from: GateMode; to: GateMode }> {
-  const patch = buildBlockingRampPatch();
-  return RAMP_DETERMINISTIC_GATE_KEYS.map((key) => ({
-    key,
-    from: settings[key],
-    to: patch[key],
-  })).filter((entry) => entry.from !== entry.to);
-}
-
-/** Friendly labels for confirm-dialog rows. */
-export const RAMP_GATE_DISPLAY_LABELS: Record<RampDeterministicGateKey, string> = {
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "Linked issue gate",
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "Duplicate PR gate",
-  qualityGateMode: "Quality / readiness gate",
-};
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.test.ts b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.test.ts
index a91f5966af..794ec7942c 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.test.ts
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.test.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/lib/maintainer-settings-editable";
 
 const SETTINGS: MaintainerSettingsEditable = {
-  reviewCheckMode: "required",
   gatePack: "gittensor",
-  linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
-  duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory",
-  qualityGateMode: "advisory",
-  qualityGateMinScore: null,
   mergeReadinessGateMode: "off",
   manifestPolicyGateMode: "off",
   slopGateMode: "off",
@@ -30,19 +25,19 @@ describe("maintainer-settings-editable (#2218)", () => {
   it("buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload includes every editable key, verbatim, with no patch", () => {
     const payload = buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload(SETTINGS);
     expect(Object.keys(payload).sort()).toEqual([...MAINTAINER_SETTINGS_EDITABLE_KEYS].sort());
-    expect(payload.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("advisory");
+    expect(payload.mergeReadinessGateMode).toBe("off");
     expect(payload.autoLabelEnabled).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it("buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload merges a partial patch over the base settings", () => {
     const payload = buildMaintainerSettingsSavePayload(SETTINGS, {
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "block",
-      duplicatePrGateMode: "block",
+      mergeReadinessGateMode: "block",
+      manifestPolicyGateMode: "block",
     });
-    expect(payload.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("block");
-    expect(payload.duplicatePrGateMode).toBe("block");
+    expect(payload.mergeReadinessGateMode).toBe("block");
+    expect(payload.manifestPolicyGateMode).toBe("block");
     // Untouched fields pass through unchanged.
-    expect(payload.qualityGateMode).toBe("advisory");
+    expect(payload.slopGateMode).toBe("off");
     expect(payload.autoLabelEnabled).toBe(true);
   });
 
diff --git a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.ts b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.ts
index 8f6aedcd39..d9ae53e708 100644
--- a/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.ts
+++ b/apps/loopover-ui/src/lib/maintainer-settings-editable.ts
@@ -17,14 +17,7 @@ export type AgentActionClass =
   "review" | "request_changes" | "approve" | "merge" | "close" | "label";
 
 export type MaintainerSettingsEditable = {
-  // #4618/#5373: a prior gateCheckMode field was a deprecated computed read-back, since removed entirely --
-  // reviewCheckMode is the real, writable authority for whether the review-agent check-run publishes.
-  reviewCheckMode: "required" | "visible" | "disabled";
   gatePack: "gittensor" | "oss-anti-slop";
-  linkedIssueGateMode: GateMode;
-  duplicatePrGateMode: GateMode;
-  qualityGateMode: GateMode;
-  qualityGateMinScore: number | null;
   mergeReadinessGateMode: GateMode;
   manifestPolicyGateMode: GateMode;
   slopGateMode: GateMode;
@@ -33,6 +26,8 @@ export type MaintainerSettingsEditable = {
   autoLabelEnabled: boolean;
   // #6443: gittensorLabel/createMissingLabel removed -- no longer DB-backed, config-as-code only via
   // .loopover.yml's settings: block now (the dashboard can no longer write them).
+  // #6444: reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode/qualityGateMinScore
+  // removed for the same reason -- config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.* block now.
   requireLinkedIssue: boolean;
   commandAuthorization: CommandAuthorization;
   autonomy: Partial<Record<AgentActionClass, AutonomyLevel>>;
@@ -44,12 +39,7 @@ export type MaintainerSettingsEditable = {
 
 // The maintainer-editable subset, sent verbatim to PUT /settings (which merges onto current settings).
 export const MAINTAINER_SETTINGS_EDITABLE_KEYS: Array<keyof MaintainerSettingsEditable> = [
-  "reviewCheckMode",
   "gatePack",
-  "linkedIssueGateMode",
-  "duplicatePrGateMode",
-  "qualityGateMode",
-  "qualityGateMinScore",
   "mergeReadinessGateMode",
   "manifestPolicyGateMode",
   "slopGateMode",
diff --git a/migrations/0162_drop_batch_c_config_as_code_columns.sql b/migrations/0162_drop_batch_c_config_as_code_columns.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2697dff4e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/0162_drop_batch_c_config_as_code_columns.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+-- Config-as-code migration (Batch C, loopover#6444, epic #6440): reviewCheckMode, linkedIssueGateMode,
+-- duplicatePrGateMode, qualityGateMode, qualityGateMinScore, selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode,
+-- aiReviewMode, aiReviewByok, aiReviewProvider, aiReviewModel, and aiReviewAllAuthors already resolved
+-- correctly from .loopover.yml's settings.*/gate.* blocks; the repository_settings DB columns were a
+-- redundant second source of truth resolveEffectiveSettings's manifest overlay already fully shadowed.
+-- SQLite 3.35+ / D1 supports DROP COLUMN directly (same precedent as 0122/0146/0150/0157/0158/0159).
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN review_check_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN linked_issue_gate_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN duplicate_pr_gate_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN quality_gate_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN quality_gate_min_score;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN self_authored_linked_issue_gate_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN ai_review_mode;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN ai_review_byok;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN ai_review_provider;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN ai_review_model;
+ALTER TABLE repository_settings DROP COLUMN ai_review_all_authors;
diff --git a/src/api/routes.ts b/src/api/routes.ts
index f39b816057..f64f05c55a 100644
--- a/src/api/routes.ts
+++ b/src/api/routes.ts
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ import { buildSlopAssessment, SLOP_RUBRIC_MARKDOWN } from "../signals/slop";
 import { buildPredictedGateVerdict } from "../rules/predicted-gate";
 import { computeContributorCalibration } from "../review/predicted-gate-calibration-ledger";
 import { buildFocusManifestValidation } from "../services/focus-manifest-validation";
-import { buildMaintainerActivationPreview, recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings } from "../services/maintainer-activation";
+import { buildMaintainerActivationPreview } from "../services/maintainer-activation";
 import { buildRepoOutcomeCalibration } from "../services/outcome-calibration";
 import { loadGatePrecisionReport } from "../services/gate-precision";
 import { computeOpsStats, isOpsEnabled, resolveOpsManifestOverride } from "../review/ops-wire";
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ import { buildMaintainerQualityDashboard, isMaintainerQualityDataStale } from ".
 import { buildMaintainerSlopDuplicateTrend, SLOP_DUPLICATE_TREND_SNAPSHOT_LIMIT } from "../services/maintainer-slop-duplicate-trend";
 import { buildGateOutcomeBreakdown, GATE_OUTCOME_BREAKDOWN_WINDOW_DAYS } from "../services/gate-outcome-breakdown";
 import { MAX_LOCAL_SCORER_WARNING_CHARS, MAX_LOCAL_SCORER_WARNING_COUNT } from "../signals/local-scorer-diagnostics";
-import { compileFocusManifestPolicy, MAX_FOCUS_MANIFEST_BYTES, normalizeReadinessGateMode, resolveEffectiveSettings } from "../signals/focus-manifest";
+import { compileFocusManifestPolicy, MAX_FOCUS_MANIFEST_BYTES, resolveEffectiveSettings } from "../signals/focus-manifest";
 import { resolveRepositorySettings } from "../settings/repository-settings";
 import { loadPublicRepoFocusManifest, loadRepoFocusManifest, upsertRepoFocusManifest } from "../signals/focus-manifest-loader";
 import { buildRepoOnboardingPackPreviewForRepo } from "../services/repo-onboarding-pack";
@@ -666,21 +666,12 @@ const agentPlanSchema = z
 
 const agentExplainBlockersSchema = z.union([localBranchAnalysisSchema, agentPlanSchema]);
 
+// reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode/qualityGateMinScore/
+// aiReviewMode/aiReviewByok/aiReviewProvider/aiReviewModel/aiReviewAllAuthors removed from this write
+// schema (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.* block now;
+// upsertRepositorySettings no longer has a DB column to write any of them into.
 const repositorySettingsSchema = z.object({
-  // #4618/#5373: this write schema never accepted a gateCheckMode field -- it was a deprecated computed
-  // read-back of reviewCheckMode, removed from RepositorySettings entirely in #5373. Set reviewCheckMode
-  // directly.
-  reviewCheckMode: z.enum(["required", "visible", "disabled"]).default("disabled"),
   gatePack: z.enum(["gittensor", "oss-anti-slop"]).default("gittensor"),
-  linkedIssueGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]).default("advisory"),
-  duplicatePrGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]).default("block"),
-  qualityGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]).default("advisory"),
-  qualityGateMinScore: z.number().int().min(0).max(100).nullable().optional(),
-  aiReviewMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]).default("off"),
-  aiReviewByok: z.boolean().default(false),
-  aiReviewProvider: z.enum(["anthropic", "openai"]).nullable().optional(),
-  aiReviewModel: z.string().trim().min(1).max(120).nullable().optional(),
-  aiReviewAllAuthors: z.boolean().default(false),
   aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: z.enum(["one_shot", "hold_for_review", "advisory_only"]).default("hold_for_review"),
   closeOwnerAuthors: z.boolean().default(false),
   autoLabelEnabled: z.boolean().default(true),
@@ -700,17 +691,14 @@ const repositorySettingsSchema = z.object({
 // dedicated /ai-review + /ai-key routes) and the operator-only scoring internal (backfillEnabled). The
 // handler loads current settings and merges, since upsertRepositorySettings defaults any absent field
 // rather than preserving it.
+// reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode/qualityGateMinScore/
+// selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode removed from this write schema (Batch C, loopover#6444) --
+// config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.* block now.
 const maintainerSettingsSchema = z
   .object({
-    reviewCheckMode: z.enum(["required", "visible", "disabled"]),
     gatePack: z.enum(["gittensor", "oss-anti-slop"]),
-    linkedIssueGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
-    duplicatePrGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
-    qualityGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
-    qualityGateMinScore: z.number().int().min(0).max(100).nullable(),
     mergeReadinessGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
     manifestPolicyGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
-    selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
     linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
     // #6443: mergeTrainMode/gittensorLabel/blacklistLabel/createMissingLabel removed -- no longer DB-backed,
     // config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's settings: block now.
@@ -738,20 +726,10 @@ const maintainerSettingsSchema = z
   })
   .partial();
 
-/** Readiness/quality can never hard-block a PR (buildQualityGateWarning is always advisory-severity;
- *  isConfiguredGateBlocker has no branch for it) — downgrade a settings-write's `qualityGateMode: "block"` to
- *  `"advisory"` here too, mirroring the same downgrade `.loopover.yml`'s `gate.readiness.mode` /
- *  `settings.qualityGateMode` already get in normalizeReadinessGateMode, so the dashboard/API save path can
- *  never persist a value that implies enforcement it doesn't have (#2267). Callers check for `undefined`
- *  (a PATCH-style save that didn't touch this field) before calling — this only handles the defined case, so
- *  the return type never needs `undefined` under `exactOptionalPropertyTypes`. The warnings array is scratch;
- *  these routes have no warnings-response protocol. */
-function downgradeQualityGateMode(mode: "off" | "advisory" | "block"): "off" | "advisory" {
-  /* v8 ignore next -- never null for a Zod-validated "off"|"advisory"|"block" input (normalizeReadinessGateMode's
-     "must be one of" branch only fires for a value outside that set); the fallback only satisfies the shared
-     parser's broader return type. */
-  return (normalizeReadinessGateMode(mode, "qualityGateMode", []) as "off" | "advisory" | null) ?? "advisory";
-}
+// downgradeQualityGateMode (the settings-write-path "block" -> "advisory" downgrade for
+// qualityGateMode/#2267) was removed here: qualityGateMode is config-as-code only now (Batch C,
+// loopover#6444), so no write path sets it anymore. resolveEffectiveSettings's own downgrade logic
+// (src/signals/focus-manifest.ts) still applies the same rule on the read/resolver path.
 
 // Maintainer BYOK provider key. Write-only: the key is encrypted at rest and never returned. A loose
 // prefix check catches the common provider/key mismatch (e.g. pasting an OpenAI key under Anthropic)
@@ -774,20 +752,22 @@ const repositoryLinearKeySchema = z.object({
   key: z.string().trim().min(20).max(400),
 });
 
-// Maintainer-settable AI-review config (the non-secret subset of settings). The secret key is set
+// Maintainer-settable AI-review config. mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors are config-as-code only now
+// (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via a repo's own .loopover.yml gate.aiReview.* block, not this route --
+// so they are intentionally NOT accepted here anymore (a caller submitting the old shape gets a clean
+// validation error naming the current route, not a silently-ignored write). The secret key is set
 // separately via the ai-key route; never here.
-const repositoryAiReviewSchema = z.object({
-  mode: z.enum(["off", "advisory", "block"]),
-  byok: z.boolean().default(false),
-  provider: z.enum(["anthropic", "openai"]).nullable().optional(),
-  model: z.string().trim().min(1).max(120).nullable().optional(),
-  allAuthors: z.boolean().default(false),
-  closeOwnerAuthors: z.boolean().optional(),
-  // Disposition for a sub-aiReviewCloseConfidence-floor ai_consensus_defect/ai_review_split finding (#4603).
-  // Optional so a caller that only ever cared about mode/byok/provider/model keeps its historical effect --
-  // upsertRepositorySettings applies its own "hold_for_review" default when omitted.
-  lowConfidenceDisposition: z.enum(["one_shot", "hold_for_review", "advisory_only"]).optional(),
-});
+const repositoryAiReviewSchema = z
+  .object({
+    closeOwnerAuthors: z.boolean().optional(),
+    // Disposition for a sub-aiReviewCloseConfidence-floor ai_consensus_defect/ai_review_split finding (#4603).
+    // Optional -- upsertRepositorySettings applies its own "hold_for_review" default when omitted.
+    lowConfidenceDisposition: z.enum(["one_shot", "hold_for_review", "advisory_only"]).optional(),
+  })
+  // .strict() so a caller still sending the pre-Batch-C shape (mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors) gets
+  // an immediate "unrecognized key" validation error naming exactly which fields moved, instead of those
+  // keys being silently dropped and the request appearing to partially succeed.
+  .strict();
 
 const contributorIssueDraftGenerateSchema = z.object({
   dryRun: z.boolean().optional().default(true),
@@ -2563,7 +2543,6 @@ export function createApp() {
     if (!parsed.success) return c.json({ error: "invalid_repository_settings", issues: parsed.error.issues }, 400);
     const current = await getRepositorySettings(c.env, fullName);
     const changes = Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(parsed.data).filter(([, value]) => value !== undefined)) as Partial<RepositorySettings>;
-    if (changes.qualityGateMode !== undefined) changes.qualityGateMode = downgradeQualityGateMode(changes.qualityGateMode);
     const updated = await upsertRepositorySettings(c.env, { ...current, ...changes, repoFullName: fullName });
     await recordAuditEvent(c.env, {
       eventType: "repo.settings_updated",
@@ -2679,14 +2658,17 @@ export function createApp() {
   });
 
   // Maintainer activation demo (#701): a repo-specific "here's what LoopOver would have surfaced" preview
-  // over recent PRs, plus a one-click advisory ramp. Maintainer-scoped + per-repo. Deterministic (no AI run).
+  // over recent PRs. Maintainer-scoped + per-repo. Deterministic (no AI run).
   app.get("/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/activation-preview", async (c) => {
     const fullName = `${c.req.param("owner")}/${c.req.param("repo")}`;
     const gate = await requireRepoMaintainer(c, fullName);
     if (gate instanceof Response) return gate;
+    // resolveRepositorySettings (not the raw getRepositorySettings row), so reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode --
+    // both config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- reflect a repo's real .loopover.yml-driven
+    // state instead of always reporting the hardcoded DB default (#6444 follow-up to the #6557-class bug).
     const [repo, settings, pullRequests] = await Promise.all([
       getRepository(c.env, fullName),
-      getRepositorySettings(c.env, fullName),
+      resolveRepositorySettings(c.env, fullName),
       listPullRequests(c.env, fullName),
     ]);
     return c.json(
@@ -2785,28 +2767,10 @@ export function createApp() {
     return c.json({ repoFullName: fullName, cleared: true });
   });
 
-  // One-click "enable advisory mode" — turns on the gate + deterministic rules in advisory (non-blocking)
-  // mode. Merges onto current settings so unrelated fields are preserved.
-  app.post("/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/activation", async (c) => {
-    const fullName = `${c.req.param("owner")}/${c.req.param("repo")}`;
-    const gate = await requireRepoWriteAccess(c, fullName);
-    if (gate instanceof Response) return gate;
-    const current = await getRepositorySettings(c.env, fullName);
-    const updated = await upsertRepositorySettings(c.env, { ...current, ...recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings() });
-    // checkRunMode dropped (Batch A, loopover#6442): recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings() no longer sets
-    // it (writing it is now a no-op), so echoing updated.checkRunMode here would just always report the
-    // hardcoded default regardless of what this activation actually did.
-    return c.json({
-      repoFullName: fullName,
-      reviewCheckMode: updated.reviewCheckMode,
-      linkedIssueGateMode: updated.linkedIssueGateMode,
-      duplicatePrGateMode: updated.duplicatePrGateMode,
-      qualityGateMode: updated.qualityGateMode,
-    });
-  });
-
-  // Maintainer self-serve AI-review config (non-secret: mode/byok/provider/model). Session-authenticated +
-  // scoped to repos the maintainer has live GitHub write access to. The secret provider key goes through the ai-key route.
+  // Maintainer self-serve AI-review config. mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors are config-as-code only now
+  // (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via a repo's own .loopover.yml gate.aiReview.* block; this route can
+  // only still persist closeOwnerAuthors/lowConfidenceDisposition. Session-authenticated + scoped to repos
+  // the maintainer has live GitHub write access to. The secret provider key goes through the ai-key route.
   // Merges onto current settings so unrelated settings are preserved.
   app.put("/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/ai-review", async (c) => {
     const fullName = `${c.req.param("owner")}/${c.req.param("repo")}`;
@@ -2817,26 +2781,28 @@ export function createApp() {
     const current = await getRepositorySettings(c.env, fullName);
     const updated = await upsertRepositorySettings(c.env, {
       ...current,
-      aiReviewMode: parsed.data.mode,
-      aiReviewByok: parsed.data.byok,
-      aiReviewProvider: parsed.data.provider,
-      aiReviewModel: parsed.data.model,
-      aiReviewAllAuthors: parsed.data.allAuthors,
       aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: parsed.data.lowConfidenceDisposition ?? current.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition,
       closeOwnerAuthors: parsed.data.closeOwnerAuthors ?? current.closeOwnerAuthors,
     });
-    // getRepositorySettings normalizes these to a concrete value or null (never undefined).
+    // mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors read from the manifest-resolved settings (not `updated`, which is
+    // always the hardcoded default for these five now) so the response reflects a repo's real
+    // .loopover.yml-driven state instead of silently reporting the same constant on every save.
+    const manifest = await loadRepoFocusManifest(c.env, fullName);
+    const resolved = resolveEffectiveSettings(updated, manifest);
     return c.json({
-      aiReviewMode: updated.aiReviewMode,
-      aiReviewByok: updated.aiReviewByok,
-      aiReviewProvider: updated.aiReviewProvider ?? null,
-      aiReviewModel: updated.aiReviewModel ?? null,
-      aiReviewAllAuthors: updated.aiReviewAllAuthors,
+      aiReviewMode: resolved.aiReviewMode,
+      aiReviewByok: resolved.aiReviewByok,
+      aiReviewProvider: resolved.aiReviewProvider ?? null,
+      aiReviewModel: resolved.aiReviewModel ?? null,
+      aiReviewAllAuthors: resolved.aiReviewAllAuthors,
       // parseAiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition's return type is non-nullable and already falls back to the
       // literal "hold_for_review" itself, so this side of the `??` can never actually run.
       /* v8 ignore next */
       aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: updated.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition ?? "hold_for_review",
       closeOwnerAuthors: updated.closeOwnerAuthors,
+      // Tells the dashboard these five fields are read-only now and where to configure them instead --
+      // see apps/loopover-ui's AiReviewSettings component, which stops rendering them as editable inputs.
+      aiReviewConfigAsCode: true,
     });
   });
 
@@ -4271,17 +4237,7 @@ export function createApp() {
     return c.json(
       await upsertRepositorySettings(c.env, {
         repoFullName: fullName,
-        reviewCheckMode: parsed.data.reviewCheckMode,
         gatePack: parsed.data.gatePack,
-        linkedIssueGateMode: parsed.data.linkedIssueGateMode,
-        duplicatePrGateMode: parsed.data.duplicatePrGateMode,
-        qualityGateMode: downgradeQualityGateMode(parsed.data.qualityGateMode),
-        qualityGateMinScore: parsed.data.qualityGateMinScore,
-        aiReviewMode: parsed.data.aiReviewMode,
-        aiReviewByok: parsed.data.aiReviewByok,
-        aiReviewProvider: parsed.data.aiReviewProvider,
-        aiReviewModel: parsed.data.aiReviewModel,
-        aiReviewAllAuthors: parsed.data.aiReviewAllAuthors,
         aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: parsed.data.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition,
         closeOwnerAuthors: parsed.data.closeOwnerAuthors,
         autoLabelEnabled: parsed.data.autoLabelEnabled,
@@ -5145,6 +5101,12 @@ const CONFIG_AS_CODE_ONLY_FIELDS = [
   "reviewEvasionLabel",
   "reviewEvasionComment",
   "mergeTrainMode",
+  // Batch C (loopover#6444): only reviewCheckMode is read directly in this file (buildGithubAppBehavior) --
+  // the other 10 Batch C fields (linkedIssueGateMode, duplicatePrGateMode, qualityGateMode,
+  // qualityGateMinScore, selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode, aiReviewMode, aiReviewByok, aiReviewProvider,
+  // aiReviewModel, aiReviewAllAuthors) are never read by registration-readiness.ts/this response, so they
+  // don't need adding here.
+  "reviewCheckMode",
 ] as const satisfies ReadonlyArray<keyof RepositorySettings>;
 function applyConfigAsCodeOnlyFields(rawSettings: RepositorySettings, resolvedSettings: RepositorySettings): RepositorySettings {
   const settings = { ...rawSettings };
diff --git a/src/db/repositories.ts b/src/db/repositories.ts
index 384ad49ed0..0a822a7223 100644
--- a/src/db/repositories.ts
+++ b/src/db/repositories.ts
@@ -661,27 +661,30 @@ export async function getRepositorySettings(env: Env, fullName: string): Promise
     checkRunMode: "off",
     checkRunDetailLevel: "minimal",
     regateSweepOrderMode: "staleness",
-    reviewCheckMode: parseReviewCheckMode(row.reviewCheckMode),
+    // Config-as-code only (Batch C, loopover#6444): no DB column backs these 11 fields anymore -- the
+    // built-in default here is unconditional (not row-dependent), matching the !row branch above.
+    // resolveEffectiveSettings still overlays a repo's .loopover.yml settings./gate.* value over this default.
+    reviewCheckMode: "disabled",
     // Config-as-code only (loopover#6445): see the comment on the autoMaintain block below.
     autoProjectMilestoneMatch: "off",
     autoProjectMilestoneMatchBackend: "github",
     gatePack: parseGatePack(row.gatePack),
-    linkedIssueGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.linkedIssueGateMode),
-    duplicatePrGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.duplicatePrGateMode),
-    qualityGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.qualityGateMode),
-    qualityGateMinScore: normalizeQualityGateMinScore(row.qualityGateMinScore),
+    linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
+    duplicatePrGateMode: "block",
+    qualityGateMode: "advisory",
+    qualityGateMinScore: null,
     slopGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.slopGateMode),
     mergeReadinessGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.mergeReadinessGateMode),
     manifestPolicyGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.manifestPolicyGateMode),
-    selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode),
+    selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
     linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode),
     slopGateMinScore: normalizeQualityGateMinScore(row.slopGateMinScore),
     slopAiAdvisory: row.slopAiAdvisory,
-    aiReviewMode: parseGateRuleMode(row.aiReviewMode),
-    aiReviewByok: row.aiReviewByok,
-    aiReviewProvider: normalizeAiReviewProvider(row.aiReviewProvider),
-    aiReviewModel: row.aiReviewModel ?? null,
-    aiReviewAllAuthors: row.aiReviewAllAuthors,
+    aiReviewMode: "off",
+    aiReviewByok: false,
+    aiReviewProvider: null,
+    aiReviewModel: null,
+    aiReviewAllAuthors: false,
     aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: parseAiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition(row.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition),
     closeOwnerAuthors: row.closeOwnerAuthors,
     autoLabelEnabled: row.autoLabelEnabled,
@@ -793,27 +796,31 @@ export async function upsertRepositorySettings(env: Env, settings: Partial<Repos
     checkRunMode: "off",
     checkRunDetailLevel: "minimal",
     regateSweepOrderMode: "staleness",
-    reviewCheckMode: settings.reviewCheckMode ?? "disabled",
+    // Config-as-code only (Batch C, loopover#6444): no DB column backs these 11 fields anymore -- any
+    // caller-supplied value is a silent no-op (there is nothing left to persist it to), so this always
+    // returns the same built-in default getRepositorySettings would, regardless of `settings.X` input.
+    // Configure these via a repo's .loopover.yml settings./gate.* block instead.
+    reviewCheckMode: "disabled",
     // Config-as-code only (loopover#6445): see the comment on the autoMaintain block below.
     autoProjectMilestoneMatch: "off",
     autoProjectMilestoneMatchBackend: "github",
     gatePack: parseGatePack(settings.gatePack),
-    linkedIssueGateMode: settings.linkedIssueGateMode ?? "advisory",
-    duplicatePrGateMode: settings.duplicatePrGateMode ?? "block",
-    qualityGateMode: settings.qualityGateMode ?? "advisory",
-    qualityGateMinScore: normalizeQualityGateMinScore(settings.qualityGateMinScore),
+    linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
+    duplicatePrGateMode: "block",
+    qualityGateMode: "advisory",
+    qualityGateMinScore: null,
     slopGateMode: settings.slopGateMode ?? "off",
     mergeReadinessGateMode: settings.mergeReadinessGateMode ?? "off",
     manifestPolicyGateMode: settings.manifestPolicyGateMode ?? "off",
-    selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: settings.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode ?? "advisory",
+    selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
     linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: settings.linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode ?? "off",
     slopGateMinScore: normalizeQualityGateMinScore(settings.slopGateMinScore),
     slopAiAdvisory: settings.slopAiAdvisory ?? false,
-    aiReviewMode: settings.aiReviewMode ?? "off",
-    aiReviewByok: settings.aiReviewByok ?? false,
-    aiReviewProvider: normalizeAiReviewProvider(settings.aiReviewProvider),
-    aiReviewModel: typeof settings.aiReviewModel === "string" && settings.aiReviewModel.trim() ? settings.aiReviewModel.trim() : null,
-    aiReviewAllAuthors: settings.aiReviewAllAuthors ?? false,
+    aiReviewMode: "off",
+    aiReviewByok: false,
+    aiReviewProvider: null,
+    aiReviewModel: null,
+    aiReviewAllAuthors: false,
     aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: parseAiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition(settings.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition),
     closeOwnerAuthors: settings.closeOwnerAuthors ?? false,
     autoLabelEnabled: settings.autoLabelEnabled ?? true,
@@ -879,24 +886,13 @@ export async function upsertRepositorySettings(env: Env, settings: Partial<Repos
     .insert(repositorySettings)
     .values({
       repoFullName: resolved.repoFullName,
-      reviewCheckMode: resolved.reviewCheckMode,
       gatePack: resolved.gatePack,
-      linkedIssueGateMode: resolved.linkedIssueGateMode,
-      duplicatePrGateMode: resolved.duplicatePrGateMode,
-      qualityGateMode: resolved.qualityGateMode,
-      qualityGateMinScore: resolved.qualityGateMinScore,
       slopGateMode: resolved.slopGateMode,
       mergeReadinessGateMode: resolved.mergeReadinessGateMode,
       manifestPolicyGateMode: resolved.manifestPolicyGateMode,
-      selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: resolved.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode,
       linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: resolved.linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode,
       slopGateMinScore: resolved.slopGateMinScore,
       slopAiAdvisory: resolved.slopAiAdvisory,
-      aiReviewMode: resolved.aiReviewMode,
-      aiReviewByok: resolved.aiReviewByok,
-      aiReviewProvider: resolved.aiReviewProvider,
-      aiReviewModel: resolved.aiReviewModel,
-      aiReviewAllAuthors: resolved.aiReviewAllAuthors,
       aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: resolved.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition,
       closeOwnerAuthors: resolved.closeOwnerAuthors,
       autoLabelEnabled: resolved.autoLabelEnabled,
@@ -921,26 +917,15 @@ export async function upsertRepositorySettings(env: Env, settings: Partial<Repos
     .onConflictDoUpdate({
       target: repositorySettings.repoFullName,
       set: {
-        reviewCheckMode: resolved.reviewCheckMode,
         gatePack: resolved.gatePack,
-        linkedIssueGateMode: resolved.linkedIssueGateMode,
-        duplicatePrGateMode: resolved.duplicatePrGateMode,
-        qualityGateMode: resolved.qualityGateMode,
-        qualityGateMinScore: resolved.qualityGateMinScore,
         // slop_* were previously absent from the UPDATE branch (only INSERT), so slop settings did not
         // persist on update of an existing row. Restored here alongside the new slopAiAdvisory field.
         slopGateMode: resolved.slopGateMode,
         mergeReadinessGateMode: resolved.mergeReadinessGateMode,
         manifestPolicyGateMode: resolved.manifestPolicyGateMode,
-        selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: resolved.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode,
         linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: resolved.linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode,
         slopGateMinScore: resolved.slopGateMinScore,
         slopAiAdvisory: resolved.slopAiAdvisory,
-        aiReviewMode: resolved.aiReviewMode,
-        aiReviewByok: resolved.aiReviewByok,
-        aiReviewProvider: resolved.aiReviewProvider,
-        aiReviewModel: resolved.aiReviewModel,
-        aiReviewAllAuthors: resolved.aiReviewAllAuthors,
         aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: resolved.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition,
         closeOwnerAuthors: resolved.closeOwnerAuthors,
         autoLabelEnabled: resolved.autoLabelEnabled,
@@ -7694,10 +7679,6 @@ function parseAgentRecommendationOutcomeConfidence(value: string): AgentRecommen
   return "medium";
 }
 
-function parseReviewCheckMode(value: string): RepositorySettings["reviewCheckMode"] {
-  return value === "required" || value === "visible" ? value : "disabled";
-}
-
 function parseGatePack(value: string | null | undefined): RepositorySettings["gatePack"] {
   return value === "oss-anti-slop" ? "oss-anti-slop" : "gittensor";
 }
@@ -7707,10 +7688,6 @@ function parseGateRuleMode(value: string): RepositorySettings["linkedIssueGateMo
   return "advisory";
 }
 
-function normalizeAiReviewProvider(value: string | null | undefined): "anthropic" | "openai" | null {
-  return value === "anthropic" || value === "openai" ? value : null;
-}
-
 // AI-review low-confidence disposition (#4603): one_shot | hold_for_review | advisory_only. Unrecognized/absent
 // falls back to "hold_for_review" -- the shipped, safe default (see migrations/0140_ai_review_low_confidence_
 // disposition.sql's own column DEFAULT, which this mirrors client-side for any legacy/malformed row).
diff --git a/src/db/schema.ts b/src/db/schema.ts
index e12683cfec..adf6f51c87 100644
--- a/src/db/schema.ts
+++ b/src/db/schema.ts
@@ -45,28 +45,10 @@ export const repositories = sqliteTable("repositories", {
 
 export const repositorySettings = sqliteTable("repository_settings", {
   repoFullName: text("repo_full_name").primaryKey(),
-  reviewCheckMode: text("review_check_mode").notNull().default("disabled"),
   gatePack: text("gate_pack").notNull().default("gittensor"),
-  // Missing a linked issue is advisory-only by default -- issues aren't always available, so it only
-  // blocks when a repo explicitly sets linkedIssueGateMode: "block". The sibling requireLinkedIssue
-  // toggle does NOT block on its own: it only surfaces the missing_linked_issue advisory finding, and
-  // the one path where it promotes to a real block (resolveEffectiveSettings in
-  // signals/focus-manifest.ts) only fires when linkedIssueGateMode is explicitly "off" -- never at this
-  // "advisory" default. This default was "block" until #selfhost-
-  // linked-issue-gate-drift, which also backfills any row an earlier migration (0023/0025) persisted as
-  // "block" without an explicit opt-in (migrations/0102_fix_linked_issue_gate_mode_default.sql). The raw
-  // SQLite column still has a DEFAULT 'block' from migration 0023 -- SQLite has no ALTER COLUMN SET DEFAULT,
-  // so fixing that requires a full table rebuild, not done here since no write path ever omits this field
-  // (see test/unit/schema-timestamp-defaults.test.ts). This .default("advisory") is what actually applies,
-  // client-side, on any insert that omits the field.
-  linkedIssueGateMode: text("linked_issue_gate_mode").notNull().default("advisory"),
-  duplicatePrGateMode: text("duplicate_pr_gate_mode").notNull().default("block"),
-  qualityGateMode: text("quality_gate_mode").notNull().default("advisory"),
-  qualityGateMinScore: integer("quality_gate_min_score"),
   slopGateMode: text("slop_gate_mode").notNull().default("off"),
   mergeReadinessGateMode: text("merge_readiness_gate_mode").notNull().default("off"),
   manifestPolicyGateMode: text("manifest_policy_gate_mode").notNull().default("off"),
-  selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: text("self_authored_linked_issue_gate_mode").notNull().default("advisory"),
   // Linked-issue satisfaction gate (#1961/#3906). off = the assessment never runs (byte-identical to today,
   // and the default); advisory = it runs and renders in the comment but never blocks; block = an above-
   // confidence-floor "unaddressed" verdict additionally becomes a hard blocker. See src/rules/advisory.ts's
@@ -74,11 +56,6 @@ export const repositorySettings = sqliteTable("repository_settings", {
   linkedIssueSatisfactionGateMode: text("linked_issue_satisfaction_gate_mode").notNull().default("off"),
   slopGateMinScore: integer("slop_gate_min_score"),
   slopAiAdvisory: integer("slop_ai_advisory", { mode: "boolean" }).notNull().default(false),
-  aiReviewMode: text("ai_review_mode").notNull().default("off"),
-  aiReviewByok: integer("ai_review_byok", { mode: "boolean" }).notNull().default(false),
-  aiReviewProvider: text("ai_review_provider"),
-  aiReviewModel: text("ai_review_model"),
-  aiReviewAllAuthors: integer("ai_review_all_authors", { mode: "boolean" }).notNull().default(false),
   // AI-review low-confidence disposition (#4603): one_shot | hold_for_review | advisory_only. Governs a
   // sub-aiReviewCloseConfidence-floor ai_consensus_defect/ai_review_split finding. Default hold_for_review --
   // see migrations/0140_ai_review_low_confidence_disposition.sql and src/rules/advisory.ts's
diff --git a/src/services/maintainer-activation.ts b/src/services/maintainer-activation.ts
index fb2b5a6a79..6243d6943f 100644
--- a/src/services/maintainer-activation.ts
+++ b/src/services/maintainer-activation.ts
@@ -108,23 +108,8 @@ function buildSummary(evaluated: number, withFindings: number, currentlyActive:
   return currentlyActive ? `${base} The LoopOver gate is already enabled.` : `${base} Enable advisory mode to start surfacing this guidance automatically.`;
 }
 
-/**
- * The one-click "enable advisory mode" patch. Advisory-first by design (#525 cross-cutting AC): turns on the
- * gate check + the deterministic rules in ADVISORY mode (never blocking, never auto-merge). AI review stays
- * off — it's opt-in via the ai-review route. Merged onto current settings so unrelated fields are preserved.
- */
-export function recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings(): Pick<
-  RepositorySettings,
-  "reviewCheckMode" | "linkedIssueGateMode" | "duplicatePrGateMode" | "qualityGateMode"
-> {
-  // checkRunMode moved off the DB entirely (Batch A, loopover#6442) -- writing it via upsertRepositorySettings
-  // is now a silent no-op, so it's dropped from this one-click patch rather than pretending to activate it.
-  // Turning check-run mode on now requires a repo's own .loopover.yml settings.checkRunMode -- there is no
-  // config-as-code write mechanism this one-click action can use to set that on the maintainer's behalf.
-  return {
-    reviewCheckMode: "required",
-    linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
-    duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory",
-    qualityGateMode: "advisory",
-  };
-}
+// The one-click "enable advisory mode" patch (recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings) was removed here:
+// reviewCheckMode, linkedIssueGateMode, duplicatePrGateMode, and qualityGateMode are ALL config-as-code
+// only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- writing any of them via upsertRepositorySettings is a silent
+// no-op, so there was nothing left for a one-click DB-write action to meaningfully do. Enabling the gate
+// now requires a repo's own .loopover.yml gate.checkMode (or the legacy settings.reviewCheckMode alias).
diff --git a/test/integration/api.test.ts b/test/integration/api.test.ts
index ad4a1b30a6..3a3612d166 100644
--- a/test/integration/api.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/api.test.ts
@@ -430,9 +430,10 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
     await expect(response.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ repoFullName: "acme/badged", badgeEnabled: false });
   });
 
-  it("downgrades qualityGateMode: block to advisory through the internal settings write endpoint too (#2267)", async () => {
-    // Readiness/quality can never hard-block a PR — the internal full-settings write path (used by tooling,
-    // not just the maintainer dashboard) gets the identical downgrade so it can't persist "block" either.
+  it("ignores a qualityGateMode opt-in posted to the internal settings write endpoint (config-as-code only now, #6444)", async () => {
+    // qualityGateMode was removed from repositorySettingsSchema entirely in Batch C (loopover#6444) --
+    // it's config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.readiness.mode now, so upsertRepositorySettings
+    // always returns its hardcoded "advisory" default regardless of what a caller posts here.
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv();
     const response = await app.request(
@@ -444,10 +445,11 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
     await expect(response.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ repoFullName: "acme/readiness-block", qualityGateMode: "advisory" });
   });
 
-  it("ignores an unknown gateCheckMode key in the request body through the internal settings write endpoint (#4618/#5373)", async () => {
-    // gateCheckMode was removed entirely from RepositorySettings (#5373); the internal full-replace route's
-    // schema never accepted it as input even before removal (#4618). A caller sending it gets the schema's
-    // plain reviewCheckMode default ("disabled") -- the unknown key is silently ignored, not rejected.
+  it("ignores reviewCheckMode/gateCheckMode keys in the request body through the internal settings write endpoint (#4618/#5373/#6444)", async () => {
+    // gateCheckMode was removed entirely from RepositorySettings (#5373); reviewCheckMode itself was
+    // subsequently removed from repositorySettingsSchema too (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- it's
+    // config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.checkMode now, so both keys are silently ignored and
+    // the response always reflects the hardcoded "disabled" default.
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv();
     const enabled = await app.request(
@@ -458,14 +460,13 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
     expect(enabled.status).toBe(200);
     await expect(enabled.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ reviewCheckMode: "disabled" });
 
-    // reviewCheckMode set directly is the real, honored write path.
     const explicit = await app.request(
       "/v1/internal/repos/acme/legacy-gate-explicit/settings",
       { method: "POST", headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${env.INTERNAL_JOB_TOKEN}`, "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ gateCheckMode: "off", reviewCheckMode: "visible" }) },
       env,
     );
     expect(explicit.status).toBe(200);
-    await expect(explicit.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ reviewCheckMode: "visible" });
+    await expect(explicit.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ reviewCheckMode: "disabled" });
   });
 
   it("rejects invalid public GitHub repo stats paths before calling GitHub", async () => {
@@ -2677,11 +2678,11 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
         method: "PUT",
         headers: ownerHeaders,
         // #773/#774/#776: the agent-layer config is settable here; the DB layer drops an unknown action class.
-        // #2267: qualityGateMode: "block" is downgraded to "advisory" on write — readiness/quality can never
-        // hard-block a PR, so the dashboard/API save path can't persist a value implying enforcement it doesn't
-        // have. slopGateMode: "block" is a DIFFERENT, legitimately-blockable dimension and is left untouched.
-        // #4618/#5373: gateCheckMode is an unknown key with no effect here (removed from RepositorySettings
-        // entirely) -- included to confirm it is silently ignored, not to drive reviewCheckMode.
+        // slopGateMode: "block" is a legitimately-blockable dimension, unaffected by Batch C.
+        // #4618/#5373/#6444: gateCheckMode/reviewCheckMode/qualityGateMode are unknown keys here now --
+        // reviewCheckMode/qualityGateMode were removed from maintainerSettingsSchema entirely in Batch C
+        // (loopover#6444), config-as-code only via .loopover.yml now -- included to confirm they are
+        // silently ignored (ignored keys on a non-strict `.partial()` schema), not rejected.
         // mergeTrainMode moved off the DB entirely (Batch B, loopover#6443) -- no longer a writable key on this
         // route, config-as-code only via .loopover.yml now. Same for autoMaintain (loopover#6445).
         body: JSON.stringify({ gateCheckMode: "enabled", reviewCheckMode: "required", slopGateMode: "block", slopGateMinScore: 55, qualityGateMode: "block", autonomy: { merge: "auto_with_approval", deploy: "auto" }, agentPaused: true, agentDryRun: true }),
@@ -2690,28 +2691,22 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
     );
     expect(settingsUpdate.status).toBe(200);
     await expect(settingsUpdate.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
+      reviewCheckMode: "disabled", // config-as-code only (#6444) -- always the hardcoded default now
       slopGateMode: "block",
       slopGateMinScore: 55,
-      qualityGateMode: "advisory", // #2267: downgraded, not persisted as "block"
+      qualityGateMode: "advisory", // config-as-code only (#6444) -- always the hardcoded default now
       autonomy: { merge: "auto_with_approval" }, // unknown action class dropped by the DB normalizer
       agentPaused: true, // #776 kill-switch
       agentDryRun: true,
     });
-    // #4618/#5373: gateCheckMode alone has NO effect -- it is an unknown key, so reviewCheckMode stays
-    // whatever it already was (still "required" from the write immediately above), not derived "disabled".
-    const settingsUpdateOff = await app.request(
-      "/v1/repos/repo-owner/owned-repo/settings",
-      { method: "PUT", headers: ownerHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ gateCheckMode: "off" }) },
-      ownerEnv,
-    );
-    expect(settingsUpdateOff.status).toBe(200);
-    await expect(settingsUpdateOff.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({ reviewCheckMode: "required" });
-    // autoMaintain moved off the DB entirely (config-as-code, loopover#6445) -- no longer a writable key on
-    // this route, so it's no longer validated at this API boundary either.
+    // gateCheckMode/reviewCheckMode/autoMaintain are all unknown/removed keys now (Batch C loopover#6444 +
+    // Batch D loopover#6445 both moved fields off this route to config-as-code-only) -- reviewCheckMode is
+    // covered by the dedicated "ignores reviewCheckMode/gateCheckMode keys..." test above, and autoMaintain
+    // has no writable shape left to bounds-check, so both of those follow-up probes are gone. Probe a
+    // still-real gate field instead for the invalid-value 400 case.
     const settingsInvalid = await app.request(
       "/v1/repos/repo-owner/owned-repo/settings",
-      { method: "PUT", headers: ownerHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ reviewCheckMode: "nonsense" }) },
+      { method: "PUT", headers: ownerHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ slopGateMode: "nonsense" }) },
       ownerEnv,
     );
     expect(settingsInvalid.status).toBe(400);
@@ -4667,7 +4662,8 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
     expect(queuedBurden.status).toBe(202);
     const queuedSignals = await app.request("/v1/internal/jobs/generate-signal-snapshots", { method: "POST", headers: internalHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ repoFullName: "owner/repo" }) }, env);
     expect(queuedSignals.status).toBe(202);
-    expect((await app.request("/v1/internal/repos/owner/repo/settings", { method: "POST", headers: internalHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ reviewCheckMode: "bad" }) }, env)).status).toBe(400);
+    // reviewCheckMode is gone from repositorySettingsSchema entirely (#6444) -- probe a still-real field instead.
+    expect((await app.request("/v1/internal/repos/owner/repo/settings", { method: "POST", headers: internalHeaders, body: JSON.stringify({ gatePack: "bad" }) }, env)).status).toBe(400);
   });
 
   it("settings-preview never mutates GitHub state", async () => {
@@ -6506,9 +6502,10 @@ describe("api routes", () => {
       env,
     );
     expect(signalsOne.status).toBe(202);
+    // reviewCheckMode is gone from repositorySettingsSchema entirely (#6444) -- probe a still-real field instead.
     const invalidSettings = await app.request(
       "/v1/internal/repos/owner/repo/settings",
-      { method: "POST", headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${env.INTERNAL_JOB_TOKEN}` }, body: JSON.stringify({ reviewCheckMode: "loud" }) },
+      { method: "POST", headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${env.INTERNAL_JOB_TOKEN}` }, body: JSON.stringify({ gatePack: "loud" }) },
       env,
     );
     expect(invalidSettings.status).toBe(400);
diff --git a/test/integration/maintainer-activation.test.ts b/test/integration/maintainer-activation.test.ts
index 1d9adbfa8e..0e0aa43e0e 100644
--- a/test/integration/maintainer-activation.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/maintainer-activation.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const mockedPermission = vi.mocked(getRepositoryCollaboratorPermission);
 
 const FULL_NAME = "owner/repo";
 const PATH_PREVIEW = "/v1/repos/owner/repo/activation-preview";
-const PATH_ACTIVATE = "/v1/repos/owner/repo/activation";
+const PATH_SETTINGS = "/v1/repos/owner/repo/settings";
 
 async function seedRepo(env: Env, owner: string, name: string, installationId: number): Promise<void> {
   await upsertInstallation(env, {
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function stubMinerFetch() {
 describe("maintainer activation routes", () => {
   afterEach(() => vi.unstubAllGlobals());
   beforeEach(() => mockedPermission.mockReset());
-  it("lets a maintainer preview activation and flip on advisory mode in one action", async () => {
+  it("lets a maintainer preview activation (reviewCheckMode is config-as-code only now, #6444)", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "operator-admin" });
     const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "operator-admin", id: 1 });
@@ -44,63 +44,12 @@ describe("maintainer activation routes", () => {
     const previewBody = (await preview.json()) as { repoFullName: string; recommendedAction: string | null; currentReviewCheckMode: string; evaluatedCount: number };
     expect(previewBody).toMatchObject({ repoFullName: FULL_NAME, recommendedAction: "enable_advisory", currentReviewCheckMode: "disabled", evaluatedCount: 0 });
 
-    const activate = await app.request(PATH_ACTIVATE, { method: "POST", headers, body: "{}" }, env);
-    expect(activate.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await activate.json()).toMatchObject({
-      repoFullName: FULL_NAME,
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
-      duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory",
-      qualityGateMode: "advisory",
-    });
-
-    // The flip persisted, and the preview now reports nothing left to enable.
-    expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, FULL_NAME)).reviewCheckMode).toBe("required");
-    const afterPreview = await app.request(PATH_PREVIEW, { headers }, env);
-    expect((await afterPreview.json() as { recommendedAction: string | null }).recommendedAction).toBeNull();
-  });
-
-
-  it("forbids read-only repo collaborators from activating advisory checks", async () => {
-    const app = createApp();
-    const env = createTestEnv({ ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "" });
-    await seedRepo(env, "owner", "repo", 201);
-    await upsertPullRequestFromGitHub(env, FULL_NAME, {
-      number: 7,
-      title: "docs tweak",
-      state: "open",
-      user: { login: "reader" },
-      author_association: "COLLABORATOR",
-      head: { sha: "abc123", ref: "docs" },
-      base: { ref: "main" },
-      labels: [],
-    });
-    stubMinerFetch();
-    mockedPermission.mockResolvedValue("read");
-    const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "reader", id: 777 });
-    const headers = { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" };
-
-    const preview = await app.request(PATH_PREVIEW, { headers }, env);
-    expect(preview.status).toBe(200);
-
-    const activate = await app.request(PATH_ACTIVATE, { method: "POST", headers, body: "{}" }, env);
-    expect(activate.status).toBe(403);
-    expect(await activate.json()).toMatchObject({ error: "insufficient_repo_permission" });
+    // POST /activation (the one-click "enable advisory mode" action) was removed here: reviewCheckMode/
+    // linkedIssueGateMode/duplicatePrGateMode/qualityGateMode are all config-as-code only now (Batch C,
+    // loopover#6444) -- there was nothing left for a DB-write action to meaningfully do.
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, FULL_NAME)).reviewCheckMode).toBe("disabled");
   });
 
-  it("allows a session with GitHub write permission to activate advisory checks", async () => {
-    const app = createApp();
-    const env = createTestEnv({ ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "" });
-    await seedRepo(env, "owner", "repo", 201);
-    stubMinerFetch();
-    mockedPermission.mockResolvedValue("write");
-    const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "owner", id: 201 });
-    const response = await app.request(PATH_ACTIVATE, { method: "POST", headers: { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" }, body: "{}" }, env);
-    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ repoFullName: FULL_NAME, reviewCheckMode: "required" });
-  });
-
   it("forbids read-only repo collaborators from writing agent settings", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "" });
@@ -120,7 +69,7 @@ describe("maintainer activation routes", () => {
     const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "reader", id: 777 });
     const headers = { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" };
 
-    const update = await app.request(`${PATH_ACTIVATE.replace("/activation", "/settings")}`, {
+    const update = await app.request(PATH_SETTINGS, {
       method: "PUT",
       headers,
       body: JSON.stringify({ autonomy: { merge: "auto" }, autoMaintain: { requireApprovals: 0, mergeMethod: "merge" } }),
@@ -140,7 +89,7 @@ describe("maintainer activation routes", () => {
     stubMinerFetch();
     mockedPermission.mockResolvedValue("write");
     const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "owner", id: 201 });
-    const response = await app.request(`${PATH_ACTIVATE.replace("/activation", "/settings")}`, {
+    const response = await app.request(PATH_SETTINGS, {
       method: "PUT",
       headers: { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" },
       // autoMaintain moved off the DB entirely (config-as-code, loopover#6445) -- no longer a writable key on
@@ -152,26 +101,27 @@ describe("maintainer activation routes", () => {
     expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ autonomy: { merge: "auto_with_approval" } });
   });
 
-  it("persists selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode from the settings PUT (API/OpenAPI parity)", async () => {
-    // The dashboard save path (maintainerSettingsSchema) omitted this DB-backed gate mode, so a maintainer
-    // setting it to `block` via the API had it silently stripped by the validator — while its OpenAPI schema
-    // and config-as-code path both accept it, and the gate genuinely enforces `block`. Prove the round-trip.
+  it("ignores selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode on the settings PUT -- config-as-code only now (#6444)", async () => {
+    // selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode was removed from maintainerSettingsSchema in Batch C
+    // (loopover#6444): it's config-as-code only via .loopover.yml's gate.selfAuthoredLinkedIssue block
+    // now, so a dashboard save attempting to set it is silently dropped (unknown key on a non-strict
+    // partial schema), not persisted, and the response reflects the hardcoded "advisory" default.
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "" });
     await seedRepo(env, "owner", "repo", 202);
     stubMinerFetch();
     mockedPermission.mockResolvedValue("write");
     const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "owner", id: 202 });
-    const response = await app.request(`${PATH_ACTIVATE.replace("/activation", "/settings")}`, {
+    const response = await app.request(PATH_SETTINGS, {
       method: "PUT",
       headers: { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" },
       body: JSON.stringify({ selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: "block" }),
     }, env);
 
     expect(response.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
+    expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode: "advisory" });
     const persisted = await getRepositorySettings(env, FULL_NAME);
-    expect(persisted.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode).toBe("block");
+    expect(persisted.selfAuthoredLinkedIssueGateMode).toBe("advisory");
   });
 
   it("forbids a non-maintainer session from the activation preview", async () => {
diff --git a/test/integration/routes-errors.test.ts b/test/integration/routes-errors.test.ts
index d77914249b..b9242d1363 100644
--- a/test/integration/routes-errors.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/routes-errors.test.ts
@@ -1103,12 +1103,13 @@ describe("api route guards and error branches", () => {
       ).status,
     ).toBe(200);
 
+    // reviewCheckMode is gone from repositorySettingsSchema entirely (#6444) -- probe a still-real field instead.
     expect(
       (
         await app.request("/v1/internal/repos/JSONbored/gittensory/settings", {
           method: "POST",
           headers: internalHeaders(env),
-          body: JSON.stringify({ reviewCheckMode: "bad" }),
+          body: JSON.stringify({ gatePack: "bad" }),
         }, env)
       ).status,
     ).toBe(400);
diff --git a/test/unit/data-spine.test.ts b/test/unit/data-spine.test.ts
index 7b856b46c1..e764f4f7ac 100644
--- a/test/unit/data-spine.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/data-spine.test.ts
@@ -274,9 +274,11 @@ describe("data spine repositories", () => {
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, "owner/repo")).gatePack).toBe("oss-anti-slop");
     // Left DB-based (not manifest injection): this exercises getRepositorySettings's own raw DB round-trip
     // directly -- it has no manifest overlay (that's resolveRepositorySettings/resolveEffectiveSettings) --
-    // so a manifest-only write here would never be observed by the assertion below.
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "owner/repo", gatePack: "gittensor", linkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
-    expect(await getRepositorySettings(env, "owner/repo")).toMatchObject({ gatePack: "gittensor", linkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
+    // so a manifest-only write here would never be observed by the assertion below. linkedIssueGateMode is
+    // config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444), so mergeReadinessGateMode probes the raw DB round-trip
+    // instead.
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "owner/repo", gatePack: "gittensor", mergeReadinessGateMode: "block" });
+    expect(await getRepositorySettings(env, "owner/repo")).toMatchObject({ gatePack: "gittensor", mergeReadinessGateMode: "block" });
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "owner/defaultpack" });
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, "owner/defaultpack")).gatePack).toBe("gittensor");
     // slop gate (#530/#532) round-trips and defaults to off.
diff --git a/test/unit/maintainer-activation.test.ts b/test/unit/maintainer-activation.test.ts
index 7e55ed6642..8fce9e7c21 100644
--- a/test/unit/maintainer-activation.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/maintainer-activation.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { buildMaintainerActivationPreview, recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings } from "../../src/services/maintainer-activation";
+import { buildMaintainerActivationPreview } from "../../src/services/maintainer-activation";
 import type { PullRequestRecord, RepositoryRecord, RepositorySettings } from "../../src/types";
 
 const repo: RepositoryRecord = {
@@ -233,14 +233,3 @@ describe("buildMaintainerActivationPreview", () => {
     expect(open.findings.map((finding) => finding.code)).not.toContain("duplicate_pr_risk");
   });
 });
-
-describe("recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings", () => {
-  it("enables the gate + deterministic rules in advisory (non-blocking) mode", () => {
-    expect(recommendedAdvisoryActivationSettings()).toEqual({
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "advisory",
-      duplicatePrGateMode: "advisory",
-      qualityGateMode: "advisory",
-    });
-  });
-});
diff --git a/test/unit/queue-4.test.ts b/test/unit/queue-4.test.ts
index fb7a67e23a..2bbbff7627 100644
--- a/test/unit/queue-4.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/queue-4.test.ts
@@ -4053,11 +4053,6 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
       repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
       autoLabelEnabled: false,
-      // Batch-C: reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode stay DB-backed here (not moved to upsertRepoFocusManifest) --
-      // this test exercises the real .loopover.yml raw-fetch path below, and upsertRepoFocusManifest would
-      // poison the 6h manifest cache and skip that fetch entirely.
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      aiReviewMode: "block",
       gatePack: "oss-anti-slop",
     });
     vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
@@ -4073,8 +4068,10 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
       if (url.includes("/issues/7/comments") && method === "POST") return Response.json({ id: 1 }, { status: 201 });
       if (url.includes("/branches/")) return Response.json({ protected: false, protection: { required_status_checks: { contexts: [] } } });
       // The repo's own review.tone opt-in (#2044) -- a maintainer voice brief, distinct from review.instructions.
+      // reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode are config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via gate.checkMode/
+      // gate.aiReview.mode here instead of upsertRepositorySettings above.
       if (url === "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JSONbored/gittensory/HEAD/.loopover.yml") {
-        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\nreview:\n  tone: Keep findings terse and skip pleasantries\n");
+        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\ngate:\n  checkMode: required\n  aiReview:\n    mode: block\nreview:\n  tone: Keep findings terse and skip pleasantries\n");
       }
       // Real GitHub raw-content 404s for every other manifest candidate -- without this, Response.json({}) below would 200 the first candidate
       // tried and mask the review.tone config crafted above.
@@ -4134,17 +4131,6 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
       repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
       autoLabelEnabled: false,
-      // Batch-C: reviewCheckMode also stays DB-backed here (not moved to upsertRepoFocusManifest) -- this
-      // test exercises the real .loopover.yml raw-fetch path below, and upsertRepoFocusManifest would
-      // poison the 6h manifest cache and skip that fetch entirely.
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      // advisory (NOT block): block mode always reviews the full diff, ignoring exclude_paths/path_filters, so
-      // only advisory mode exercises the filterReviewFilesForAi branch (src/queue/processors.ts).
-      aiReviewMode: "advisory",
-      // The PR author below is an unconfirmed contributor; aiReviewAllAuthors is the documented per-repo opt-in
-      // that widens the AI-spend gate to every author (already unit-tested in ai-review-advisory.test.ts) so this
-      // test doesn't also have to stand up the full miner-confirmation registry mocks just to reach the AI call.
-      aiReviewAllAuthors: true,
     });
     vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
       const url = input.toString();
@@ -4168,8 +4154,12 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
         // Batch-A fields moved off upsertRepositorySettings above and into this fetched .loopover.yml's
         // `settings:` block (config-as-code migration, #6442) so the real yaml-fetch path -- not
         // upsertRepoFocusManifest, which would poison the 6h manifest cache and skip this fetch -- still
-        // supplies them alongside review.exclude_paths.
-        return new Response('settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: "off"\nreview:\n  exclude_paths:\n    - "**/*.generated.ts"\n');
+        // supplies them alongside review.exclude_paths. reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode/aiReviewAllAuthors are
+        // config-as-code only now too (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- gate.aiReview.mode is "advisory" (NOT
+        // "block": block mode always reviews the full diff, ignoring exclude_paths/path_filters, so only
+        // advisory mode exercises the filterReviewFilesForAi branch). gate.aiReview.allAuthors widens the
+        // AI-spend gate to the unconfirmed contributor author below.
+        return new Response('settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: "off"\ngate:\n  checkMode: required\n  aiReview:\n    mode: advisory\n    allAuthors: true\nreview:\n  exclude_paths:\n    - "**/*.generated.ts"\n');
       }
       // Real GitHub raw-content 404s for every other manifest candidate -- without this, the generic Response.json({}) catch-all below would
       // otherwise 200 the FIRST candidate tried and mask the exclude_paths config crafted above.
@@ -4213,12 +4203,7 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
       repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
       autoLabelEnabled: false,
-      // Batch-C: reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode stay DB-backed here (not moved to upsertRepoFocusManifest) --
-      // this test exercises the real .loopover.yml raw-fetch path below, and upsertRepoFocusManifest would
-      // poison the 6h manifest cache and skip that fetch entirely.
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
       autonomy: { update_branch: "auto" },
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "block",
     });
     let postedBody = "";
     const calls = { comments: 0, gateChecks: 0 };
@@ -4283,7 +4268,9 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
       if (url.endsWith("/users/oktofeesh1")) return Response.json({ login: "oktofeesh1", public_repos: 2, followers: 1 });
       if (url.includes("/users/oktofeesh1/repos")) return Response.json([{ language: "TypeScript" }]);
       if (url === "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JSONbored/gittensory/HEAD/.loopover.yml") {
-        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: detected_contributors_only\n  publicAudienceMode: gittensor_only\n  publicSignalLevel: standard\n  publicSurface: comment_and_label\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\n  checkRunDetailLevel: minimal\n  backfillEnabled: true\nreview:\n  max_findings:\n    blockers: 0\n");
+        // reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode are config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via
+        // gate.checkMode/gate.linkedIssue here instead of upsertRepositorySettings above.
+        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: detected_contributors_only\n  publicAudienceMode: gittensor_only\n  publicSignalLevel: standard\n  publicSurface: comment_and_label\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\n  checkRunDetailLevel: minimal\n  backfillEnabled: true\ngate:\n  checkMode: required\n  linkedIssue: block\nreview:\n  max_findings:\n    blockers: 0\n");
       }
       if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) {
         if (gateFinalized && !failedPostGateMint) {
@@ -4706,11 +4693,6 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
       repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
       autoLabelEnabled: false,
-      // Batch-C: reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode stay DB-backed here (not moved to upsertRepoFocusManifest) --
-      // this test exercises the real .loopover.yml raw-fetch path below, and upsertRepoFocusManifest would
-      // poison the 6h manifest cache and skip that fetch entirely.
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      aiReviewMode: "block",
       gatePack: "oss-anti-slop",
     });
     let inlineReviewComments: Array<{ body: string }> = [];
@@ -4719,9 +4701,10 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
       const url = input.toString();
       const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
       if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
-      // .loopover.yml opts into inline comments AND finding categories together.
+      // .loopover.yml opts into inline comments AND finding categories together. reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode
+      // are config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via gate.checkMode/gate.aiReview.mode.
       if (url === "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JSONbored/gittensory/HEAD/.loopover.yml") {
-        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\nreview:\n  inline_comments: true\n  finding_categories: true\n");
+        return new Response("settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: \"off\"\ngate:\n  checkMode: required\n  aiReview:\n    mode: block\nreview:\n  inline_comments: true\n  finding_categories: true\n");
       }
       // Real GitHub raw-content 404s for every other manifest candidate -- without this, Response.json({}) below would 200 the first candidate
       // tried and mask the inline_comments/finding_categories config crafted above.
@@ -4840,10 +4823,7 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
       AI_DAILY_NEURON_BUDGET: "100000",
     });
     await upsertRepositoryFromGitHub(env, { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }, 123);
-    // Batch-C: reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode stay DB-backed here (not moved to upsertRepoFocusManifest) --
-    // this test exercises the real .loopover.yml raw-fetch path below, and upsertRepoFocusManifest would
-    // poison the 6h manifest cache and skip that fetch entirely.
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory", autoLabelEnabled: false, reviewCheckMode: "required", aiReviewMode: "block", gatePack: "oss-anti-slop" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory", autoLabelEnabled: false, gatePack: "oss-anti-slop" });
     let unifiedCommentBody = "";
     vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
       const url = input.toString();
@@ -4854,8 +4834,9 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
         // Batch-A fields moved off upsertRepositorySettings above and into this fetched .loopover.yml's
         // `settings:` block (config-as-code migration, #6442) so the real yaml-fetch path -- not
         // upsertRepoFocusManifest, which would poison the 6h manifest cache and skip this fetch -- still
-        // supplies them alongside review.fixHandoff.
-        return new Response('settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: "off"\nreview:\n  inline_comments: true\n  fixHandoff: true\n');
+        // supplies them alongside review.fixHandoff. reviewCheckMode/aiReviewMode are config-as-code only
+        // now too (Batch C, loopover#6444), set via gate.checkMode/gate.aiReview.mode here.
+        return new Response('settings:\n  commentMode: all_prs\n  publicSurface: comment_only\n  checkRunMode: "off"\ngate:\n  checkMode: required\n  aiReview:\n    mode: block\nreview:\n  inline_comments: true\n  fixHandoff: true\n');
       }
       // Real GitHub raw-content 404s for every other manifest candidate -- without this, Response.json({}) below would 200 the first candidate
       // tried and mask the inline_comments/fixHandoff config crafted above.
diff --git a/test/unit/queue-5.test.ts b/test/unit/queue-5.test.ts
index 1fdbe35dc5..1a2356241d 100644
--- a/test/unit/queue-5.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/queue-5.test.ts
@@ -2885,17 +2885,13 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
   it("overrides the Gate to neutral for THIS commit only when a real write/admin maintainer runs gate-override", async () => {
     const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
     await upsertRepositoryFromGitHub(env, { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }, 123);
-    // NOT manifest-converted: this test asserts directly on the raw repository_settings.review_check_mode
-    // DB column below (a bypassing raw SQL read, not resolveRepositorySettings/resolveEffectiveSettings),
-    // to prove the gate-override doesn't persist a permanent state change -- a manifest override wouldn't
-    // be reflected in that raw column read, so reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode stay DB-injected here.
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
       repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
       autoLabelEnabled: false,
-      reviewCheckMode: "required",
-      linkedIssueGateMode: "off",
     });
-    await upsertRepoFocusManifest(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { settings: { commentMode: "off", publicSurface: "off", checkRunMode: "off" } });
+    // reviewCheckMode/linkedIssueGateMode are config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- set via
+    // the manifest, which resolveEffectiveSettings reads (the DB layer would silently ignore them).
+    await upsertRepoFocusManifest(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { settings: { reviewCheckMode: "required", linkedIssueGateMode: "off", commentMode: "off", publicSurface: "off", checkRunMode: "off" } });
     await upsertPullRequestFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", {
       number: 90,
       title: "Override me",
@@ -2971,10 +2967,10 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     expect(audit).toMatchObject({ event_type: "github_app.gate_overridden", actor: "maintainer", target_key: "JSONbored/gittensory#90", outcome: "completed" });
     const usageEvents = await listProductUsageEvents(env, { limit: 10 });
     expect(usageEvents).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining([expect.objectContaining({ surface: "github_app", eventName: "gate_overridden", outcome: "completed" })]));
-    // No override state is persisted: the gate stays "required" and the override does NOT persist an advisory,
-    // so a follow-up synchronize re-evaluates the Gate from scratch (no permanent bypass).
-    const settingsAfter = await env.DB.prepare("select review_check_mode from repository_settings where repo_full_name = ?").bind("JSONbored/gittensory").first<{ review_check_mode: string }>();
-    expect(settingsAfter?.review_check_mode).toBe("required");
+    // No override state is persisted: the manifest-resolved gate stays "required" and the override does NOT
+    // persist an advisory, so a follow-up synchronize re-evaluates the Gate from scratch (no permanent bypass).
+    const settingsAfter = await repositorySettingsModule.resolveRepositorySettings(env, "JSONbored/gittensory");
+    expect(settingsAfter.reviewCheckMode).toBe("required");
     const overrideAdvisory = await env.DB.prepare("select id from advisories where target_key = ?").bind("JSONbored/gittensory#90").first<{ id: string }>();
     expect(overrideAdvisory ?? null).toBeNull();
   });
diff --git a/test/unit/repository-settings-linked-issue-defaults.test.ts b/test/unit/repository-settings-linked-issue-defaults.test.ts
index ad9fe373cf..060b2569a5 100644
--- a/test/unit/repository-settings-linked-issue-defaults.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/repository-settings-linked-issue-defaults.test.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { getRepositorySettings, upsertRepositorySettings } from "../../src/db/repositories";
 import { createTestEnv } from "../helpers/d1";
 
-// #selfhost-linked-issue-gate-drift: repository_settings.linked_issue_gate_mode was persisted as 'block' in
-// production for repos that never explicitly opted into it (migrations/0102_fix_linked_issue_gate_mode_default.sql
-// backfills the historically-drifted rows). These regression tests pin the two paths that must default to
-// 'advisory' going forward: a brand-new row (no DB row yet) and an explicit upsert that omits the field.
+// #selfhost-linked-issue-gate-drift/#6444: repository_settings.linked_issue_gate_mode was persisted as
+// 'block' in production for repos that never explicitly opted into it
+// (migrations/0102_fix_linked_issue_gate_mode_default.sql backfills the historically-drifted rows). The
+// column itself was dropped entirely in Batch C (loopover#6444) -- linkedIssueGateMode is config-as-code
+// only now, so getRepositorySettings/upsertRepositorySettings always return the hardcoded "advisory"
+// default regardless of caller input; resolveEffectiveSettings (not this DB layer) overlays a repo's
+// .loopover.yml gate.linkedIssue value on top. The explicit-opt-in/round-trip tests this file used to
+// carry no longer apply once there is no column left to round-trip through.
 describe("repository_settings: linked-issue gate defaults to advisory, not block (#selfhost-linked-issue-gate-drift)", () => {
   it("getRepositorySettings returns advisory for a repo with no DB row at all", async () => {
     const env = createTestEnv();
@@ -14,26 +18,10 @@ describe("repository_settings: linked-issue gate defaults to advisory, not block
     expect(settings.requireLinkedIssue).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("upsertRepositorySettings persists advisory when the caller omits linkedIssueGateMode entirely", async () => {
+  it("upsertRepositorySettings ignores any caller-supplied linkedIssueGateMode -- the read-back is always the hardcoded default", async () => {
     const env = createTestEnv();
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/omits-gate-mode" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/omits-gate-mode", linkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
     const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/omits-gate-mode");
     expect(settings.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("advisory");
   });
-
-  it("an explicit block opt-in is persisted and read back as block -- advisory-by-default does not clobber a real opt-in", async () => {
-    const env = createTestEnv();
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/explicit-block", linkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
-    const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/explicit-block");
-    expect(settings.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("block");
-  });
-
-  it("re-upserting without specifying linkedIssueGateMode keeps the row at its previously-set value (upsert defaults only apply when the field is omitted from the settings object, not merged against the existing row)", async () => {
-    const env = createTestEnv();
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/round-trip", linkedIssueGateMode: "block" });
-    const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/round-trip");
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { ...settings, repoFullName: "acme/round-trip" });
-    const after = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/round-trip");
-    expect(after.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("block");
-  });
 });
diff --git a/test/unit/repository-settings-review-check-mode.test.ts b/test/unit/repository-settings-review-check-mode.test.ts
index d429b5d9ef..aff1641827 100644
--- a/test/unit/repository-settings-review-check-mode.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/repository-settings-review-check-mode.test.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,12 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { getRepositorySettings, upsertRepositorySettings } from "../../src/db/repositories";
 import { createTestEnv } from "../helpers/d1";
 
-// #2852/#5373: reviewCheckMode is the sole runtime authority for the "Gittensory Orb Review Agent" check-run
-// publish decision (required/visible/disabled). A prior gateCheckMode (off/enabled) field was a deprecated
-// computed read-back of reviewCheckMode with no effect as a write input; it has since been removed from
-// RepositorySettings entirely (#5373) -- passing it to upsertRepositorySettings is now a compile-time error,
-// not just a runtime no-op, so the tests that used to prove "gateCheckMode is ignored as a write input" no
-// longer apply (the type system enforces it more strongly than a runtime assertion ever could). The legacy
-// yml settings.gateCheckMode -> reviewCheckMode dual-write sync still exists one layer up, at
-// packages/loopover-engine/src/focus-manifest.ts's parse step (tracked separately for removal).
+// #2852/#5373/#6444: reviewCheckMode is config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) -- the
+// repository_settings.review_check_mode DB column was dropped entirely, so getRepositorySettings/
+// upsertRepositorySettings always return the hardcoded "disabled" default here regardless of what a
+// caller passes in; resolveEffectiveSettings (not this DB layer) overlays a repo's .loopover.yml
+// gate.checkMode value on top. The DB round-trip/invalid-value tests this file used to carry no longer
+// apply once there is no column left to round-trip through.
 describe("repository_settings: reviewCheckMode default (#2852)", () => {
   it("getRepositorySettings returns disabled for a repo with no DB row at all (conservative, opt-in default)", async () => {
     const env = createTestEnv();
@@ -17,30 +15,10 @@ describe("repository_settings: reviewCheckMode default (#2852)", () => {
     expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("disabled");
   });
 
-  it("upsertRepositorySettings persists disabled when the caller omits reviewCheckMode entirely", async () => {
+  it("upsertRepositorySettings ignores any caller-supplied reviewCheckMode -- the read-back is always the hardcoded default", async () => {
     const env = createTestEnv();
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/omits-both" });
     const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/omits-both");
     expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("disabled");
   });
-
-  it("an explicit required/visible/disabled opt-in round-trips through a re-upsert that carries it forward explicitly", async () => {
-    const env = createTestEnv();
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/round-trip", reviewCheckMode: "visible" });
-    const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/round-trip");
-    expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("visible");
-    // A true read-modify-write caller (the route-handler pattern: spread current settings, then override) must
-    // carry the persisted value forward explicitly -- upsertRepositorySettings never merges against the DB row.
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { ...settings, repoFullName: "acme/round-trip" });
-    const after = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/round-trip");
-    expect(after.reviewCheckMode).toBe("visible");
-  });
-
-  it("an invalid persisted DB value fails closed to disabled on read", async () => {
-    const env = createTestEnv();
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: "acme/malformed" });
-    await env.DB.prepare("UPDATE repository_settings SET review_check_mode = ? WHERE repo_full_name = ?").bind("sometimes", "acme/malformed").run();
-    const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, "acme/malformed");
-    expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("disabled");
-  });
 });
diff --git a/test/unit/routes-ai-byok.test.ts b/test/unit/routes-ai-byok.test.ts
index e172dfbab0..1361783e95 100644
--- a/test/unit/routes-ai-byok.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/routes-ai-byok.test.ts
@@ -29,33 +29,49 @@ async function seedRepo(env: Env, owner: string, name: string, installationId: n
 }
 
 describe("maintainer AI-review config route", () => {
-  it("sets mode/byok/provider/model and preserves unrelated settings", async () => {
+  // mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors are config-as-code only now (Batch C, loopover#6444) --
+  // repositoryAiReviewSchema is .strict(), so a caller still sending the pre-Batch-C shape gets a 400
+  // naming the unrecognized keys instead of a silently-partial success.
+  it("rejects the pre-Batch-C shape (mode/byok/provider/model/allAuthors) as unrecognized keys", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, reviewCheckMode: "required", autoLabelEnabled: false });
     const res = await app.request(
       `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "block", byok: true, provider: "anthropic", model: "claude-3-5-sonnet-latest", allAuthors: true, closeOwnerAuthors: true }) },
+      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "block", byok: true, provider: "anthropic", model: "claude-3-5-sonnet-latest", allAuthors: true }) },
+      env,
+    );
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ error: "invalid_ai_review_config" });
+  });
+
+  it("sets closeOwnerAuthors, sourcing aiReviewMode/byok/provider/model from the (unconfigured) manifest default", async () => {
+    const app = createApp();
+    const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, autoLabelEnabled: false });
+    const res = await app.request(
+      `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
+      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ closeOwnerAuthors: true }) },
       env,
     );
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "block", aiReviewByok: true, aiReviewProvider: "anthropic", aiReviewModel: "claude-3-5-sonnet-latest", aiReviewAllAuthors: true, closeOwnerAuthors: true });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({
+      aiReviewMode: "off",
+      aiReviewByok: false,
+      aiReviewProvider: null,
+      aiReviewModel: null,
+      aiReviewAllAuthors: false,
+      closeOwnerAuthors: true,
+      aiReviewConfigAsCode: true,
+    });
     const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO);
-    expect(settings.aiReviewMode).toBe("block");
-    expect(settings.aiReviewAllAuthors).toBe(true); // persisted + read back (DB column round-trip)
     expect(settings.closeOwnerAuthors).toBe(true); // persisted + read back (DB column round-trip)
-    expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("required"); // preserved
     expect(settings.autoLabelEnabled).toBe(false); // preserved
   });
 
   it("defaults closeOwnerAuthors off when the AI-review config omits it", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    const res = await app.request(
-      `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "block", byok: true, provider: "anthropic", model: "claude-3-5-sonnet-latest", allAuthors: true }) },
-      env,
-    );
+    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({}) }, env);
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
     expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ closeOwnerAuthors: false });
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO)).closeOwnerAuthors).toBe(false);
@@ -66,25 +82,13 @@ describe("maintainer AI-review config route", () => {
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, closeOwnerAuthors: true });
 
-    const res = await app.request(
-      `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "advisory", byok: false }) },
-      env,
-    );
+    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({}) }, env);
 
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "advisory", closeOwnerAuthors: true });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ closeOwnerAuthors: true });
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO)).closeOwnerAuthors).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it("accepts a config without provider/model (stored as null)", async () => {
-    const app = createApp();
-    const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "advisory", byok: false }) }, env);
-    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "advisory", aiReviewByok: false, aiReviewProvider: null, aiReviewModel: null });
-  });
-
   it("rejects an invalid AI-review config", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
@@ -95,28 +99,23 @@ describe("maintainer AI-review config route", () => {
   it("sets aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition (#4603) and preserves unrelated settings", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, reviewCheckMode: "required", autoLabelEnabled: false });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, autoLabelEnabled: false });
     const res = await app.request(
       `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "block", byok: false, lowConfidenceDisposition: "advisory_only" }) },
+      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ lowConfidenceDisposition: "advisory_only" }) },
       env,
     );
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "block", aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "advisory_only" });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "advisory_only" });
     const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO);
     expect(settings.aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition).toBe("advisory_only"); // persisted + read back (DB column round-trip)
-    expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("required"); // preserved
     expect(settings.autoLabelEnabled).toBe(false); // preserved
   });
 
   it("defaults aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition to hold_for_review when the AI-review config omits it (fresh repo, no row)", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    const res = await app.request(
-      `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "advisory", byok: false }) },
-      env,
-    );
+    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({}) }, env);
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
     expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "hold_for_review" });
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO)).aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition).toBe("hold_for_review");
@@ -127,34 +126,30 @@ describe("maintainer AI-review config route", () => {
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
     await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "one_shot" });
 
-    const res = await app.request(
-      `/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`,
-      { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "advisory", byok: false }) },
-      env,
-    );
+    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({}) }, env);
 
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "advisory", aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "one_shot" });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition: "one_shot" });
     expect((await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO)).aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition).toBe("one_shot");
   });
 
   it("rejects an invalid aiReviewLowConfidenceDisposition value", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "block", lowConfidenceDisposition: "sometimes" }) }, env);
+    const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ lowConfidenceDisposition: "sometimes" }) }, env);
     expect(res.status).toBe(400);
   });
 
   it("lets maintainer settings set closeOwnerAuthors without resetting unrelated fields", async () => {
     const app = createApp();
     const env = createTestEnv({ TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_SECRET: SECRET });
-    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, reviewCheckMode: "required", autoLabelEnabled: false });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, { repoFullName: REPO, autoLabelEnabled: false });
     const res = await app.request(`/v1/repos/${REPO}/settings`, { method: "PUT", headers: apiHeaders(env), body: JSON.stringify({ closeOwnerAuthors: true }) }, env);
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ closeOwnerAuthors: true, reviewCheckMode: "required", autoLabelEnabled: false });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ closeOwnerAuthors: true, autoLabelEnabled: false });
     const settings = await getRepositorySettings(env, REPO);
     expect(settings.closeOwnerAuthors).toBe(true);
-    expect(settings.reviewCheckMode).toBe("required");
+    expect(settings.autoLabelEnabled).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it("round-trips requireFreshRebaseWindowMinutes through the maintainer settings PUT route (#2552 gate finding)", async () => {
@@ -254,9 +249,9 @@ describe("maintainer route authz (session-scoped)", () => {
     stubMinerFetch();
     mockedPermission.mockResolvedValue("admin"); // real GitHub write access
     const { token } = await createSessionForGitHubUser(env, { login: "repo-owner", id: 201 });
-    const res = await app.request(`${OWNED}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ mode: "advisory", byok: true, provider: "anthropic" }) }, env);
+    const res = await app.request(`${OWNED}/ai-review`, { method: "PUT", headers: { cookie: `loopover_session=${token}`, "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ closeOwnerAuthors: true }) }, env);
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ aiReviewMode: "advisory", aiReviewProvider: "anthropic" });
+    expect(await res.json()).toMatchObject({ closeOwnerAuthors: true, aiReviewConfigAsCode: true });
   });
 
   it("allows the repo owner (admin permission) via session to set a BYOK key", async () => {
diff --git a/test/unit/schema-timestamp-defaults.test.ts b/test/unit/schema-timestamp-defaults.test.ts
index 9b80af4906..d52e94deb5 100644
--- a/test/unit/schema-timestamp-defaults.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/schema-timestamp-defaults.test.ts
@@ -26,12 +26,6 @@ describe("timestamp column defaults", () => {
     expect(row?.createdAt).toMatch(ISO);
     expect(row?.updatedAt).toMatch(ISO);
     expect(row?.createdAt).not.toBe("CURRENT_TIMESTAMP");
-    // #gate-review-2727: the raw SQLite column-level DEFAULT for linked_issue_gate_mode is still 'block'
-    // (migration 0023 added it that way, and SQLite has no ALTER COLUMN SET DEFAULT to fix it without a full
-    // table rebuild -- see migrations/0102_fix_linked_issue_gate_mode_default.sql's header comment). This
-    // pins that the raw default never actually fires: Drizzle's schema.ts `.default("advisory")` is injected
-    // client-side into the generated INSERT whenever the field is omitted, same as createdAt/updatedAt above.
-    expect(row?.linkedIssueGateMode).toBe("advisory");
   });
 
   it("keeps orb relay pending coalesce keys wired through the drizzle schema", async () => {