docs: triage v040 release truth wording

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ This project has a published GitHub Release line, but no stable support or API g
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- Triaged superseded v0.3.1 release-target wording before the v0.4.0 release train.
 - Add non-UTF-8 error-contract coverage for `dedupe` and `conflicts`.
 
 ### Added

docs/PRE-V0.4.0-INTERNAL-READINESS-AUDIT.md

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ Current main includes post-v0.3.0 functionality, including dedupe and conflicts.
 
 ### RB-02: final release evidence is missing
 
-Status: open.
+Status: closed by docs/triage-v040-release-truth-wording.
 
 The v0.4.0 release still needs exact release evidence, including:
 
@@ -135,17 +135,13 @@ Before release/prepare-v040, the external audit package must include the core so
 Severity: medium.
 Status: open.
 
-The stale-truth scan still finds older v0.3.1 and v0.2.x wording in historical docs, changelog entries, and product-strategy material. Some of this is legitimate historical release evidence and should not be rewritten. Some wording may still read like current guidance and should be triaged before the final v0.4.0 release package.
-
-Required follow-up:
-
-- identify which older references are intentionally historical;
-- update any current-guidance wording that still says the next work is v0.3.1 or a patch release;
-- avoid rewriting historical release notes unless the current truth boundary is genuinely unclear.
+The stale-truth scan found older v0.3.1 and v0.2.x wording in historical docs, changelog entries, and product-strategy material. The v0.3.1 wording that could read like current guidance in docs/V0.3.0-POST-RELEASE-AUDIT.md was triaged and marked as superseded historical planning. Historical v0.2.x release evidence remains intentionally unchanged.
 
-Suggested phase:
+Resolution:
 
-- docs/triage-v040-release-truth-wording
+- v0.3.1 wording in the v0.3.0 post-release audit is now explicitly labeled as superseded historical planning;
+- current release guidance remains v0.4.0;
+- historical v0.2.x release evidence is retained and not rewritten.
 
 ## Deferred non-blockers
 

docs/V0.3.0-POST-RELEASE-AUDIT.md

@@ -35,15 +35,15 @@ The README repository layout lists:
 
 The file does not exist in v0.3.0. The doctor command is implemented in src/agent_rules_kit/cli.py.
 
-Decision: fix the README layout in the v0.3.1 maintenance cycle. Do not refactor doctor into a separate module unless a later phase explicitly decides that the command has grown enough to justify it.
+Historical decision at v0.3.0 close: fix the README layout in the then-planned v0.3.1 maintenance cycle. Current status: that target was superseded by the v0.4.0 release train after dedupe and conflicts were added to main. Do not refactor doctor into a separate module unless a later phase explicitly decides that the command has grown enough to justify it.
 
 ### P1 — Threat model review drift
 
 docs/THREAT-MODEL.md still says it was reviewed for the published v0.2.0 release line and post-v0.2.0 main state.
 
 v0.3.0 added the public doctor, budget, and explain command surface. These commands remain local and read-only, but the threat model should explicitly say it was reviewed for v0.3.0 and should mention the v0.3.0 command surface.
 
-Decision: update the threat model in the v0.3.1 maintenance cycle before adding new product features.
+Historical decision at v0.3.0 close: update the threat model in the then-planned v0.3.1 maintenance cycle before adding new product features. Current status: that target was superseded by the v0.4.0 release train and later current-main hardening phases.
 
 ### P2 — CI compatibility coverage
 
@@ -67,11 +67,13 @@ Decision: evaluate these areas in separate phases. Do not enable noisy or sensit
 
 doctor and budget are console-only in v0.3.0.
 
-Decision: keep v0.3.1 focused on maintenance hardening. Plan JSON output for doctor and budget in a later feature release.
+Historical decision at v0.3.0 close: keep the then-planned v0.3.1 cycle focused on maintenance hardening. Current status: the next eligible public release target is now v0.4.0 because current main includes dedupe and conflicts. JSON output for doctor and budget remains deferred to a later feature release.
 
-## v0.3.1 maintenance target
+## Superseded v0.3.1 maintenance target
 
-The next patch release should focus on maintenance hardening:
+This section is retained as historical post-v0.3.0 planning evidence. It is no longer current release guidance. The next eligible public release target is v0.4.0, not v0.3.1, because current main includes the new dedupe and conflicts command surfaces.
+
+The then-planned patch release was expected to focus on maintenance hardening:
 
 - record this post-release audit;
 - sync README layout with the real source tree;
@@ -85,4 +87,4 @@ The next patch release should focus on maintenance hardening:
 
 v0.3.0 remains published and should not be modified.
 
-The next development cycle should start with v0.3.1 maintenance hardening before any v0.4.0 product features.
+Historical note: the next development cycle was originally expected to start with v0.3.1 maintenance hardening before any v0.4.0 product features. This was superseded by the current v0.4.0 release train after dedupe and conflicts landed on main.