diff --git a/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/rule_pipeline.py b/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/rule_pipeline.py
index b7fd04fd..29cf3979 100644
--- a/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/rule_pipeline.py
+++ b/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/rule_pipeline.py
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def run_rule_pipeline(
 
     # Rank rules using retrieval fusion if available
     try:
-        from gradata.enhancements.retrieval_fusion import (  # type: ignore[import]
+        from gradata.enhancements.scoring.retrieval_fusion import (  # type: ignore[import]
             ScoredRule,
             apply_correction_boost,
             reciprocal_rank_fusion,
diff --git a/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/retrieval_fusion.py b/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/scoring/retrieval_fusion.py
similarity index 100%
rename from Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/retrieval_fusion.py
rename to Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/scoring/retrieval_fusion.py
diff --git a/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/self_improvement/_graduation.py b/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/self_improvement/_graduation.py
index 680a12f5..5bf8a0f1 100644
--- a/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/self_improvement/_graduation.py
+++ b/Gradata/src/gradata/enhancements/self_improvement/_graduation.py
@@ -107,7 +107,12 @@ def _read_beta_lb_config() -> tuple[bool, float, int]:
     import math
     import os
 
-    enabled = os.environ.get("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "").lower() in ("1", "true", "yes", "on")
+    enabled = os.environ.get("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "1").lower() not in (
+        "0",
+        "false",
+        "no",
+        "off",
+    )
     try:
         threshold = float(os.environ.get("GRADATA_BETA_LB_THRESHOLD", "0.85"))
         if not math.isfinite(threshold):
@@ -128,7 +133,7 @@ def _passes_beta_lb_gate(
 ) -> bool:
     """Beta lower-bound gate on PATTERN -> RULE promotion.
 
-    Opt-in via env var ``GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE`` (default off). When enabled,
+    Enabled by default; set ``GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE=0`` to disable. When enabled,
     requires the 5th-percentile lower bound of Beta(α, β) to meet the
     configured threshold (``GRADATA_BETA_LB_THRESHOLD``, default 0.85) AND
     at least ``GRADATA_BETA_LB_MIN_FIRES`` observations (default 5).
diff --git a/Gradata/src/gradata/middleware/_core.py b/Gradata/src/gradata/middleware/_core.py
index 584784e8..3f38e3af 100644
--- a/Gradata/src/gradata/middleware/_core.py
+++ b/Gradata/src/gradata/middleware/_core.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 from gradata._env import env_str
 from gradata.enhancements.rule_to_hook import DeterminismCheck, classify_rule
+from gradata.security.score_obfuscation import obfuscate_instruction
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from gradata._types import Lesson
@@ -276,7 +277,10 @@ def build_brain_rules_block(source: RuleSource) -> str:
     selected = source.select()
     if not selected:
         return ""
-    lines = [f"[{l.state}:{l.confidence:.2f}] {l.category}: {l.description}" for l in selected]
+    lines = [
+        obfuscate_instruction(f"[{l.state}:{l.confidence:.2f}] {l.category}: {l.description}")
+        for l in selected
+    ]
     return "<brain-rules>\n" + "\n".join(lines) + "\n</brain-rules>"
 
 
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_initial_confidence_invariant.py b/Gradata/tests/test_initial_confidence_invariant.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3ea5bbd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_initial_confidence_invariant.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from gradata._types import Lesson, LessonState
+from gradata.enhancements.self_improvement import graduate
+from gradata.enhancements.self_improvement._confidence import (
+    INITIAL_CONFIDENCE,
+    MIN_APPLICATIONS_FOR_PATTERN,
+    PATTERN_THRESHOLD,
+)
+
+
+def _lesson(confidence: float, fire_count: int) -> Lesson:
+    return Lesson(
+        date="2026-05-02",
+        state=LessonState.INSTINCT,
+        confidence=confidence,
+        category="PROCESS",
+        description="Follow the existing process",
+        fire_count=fire_count,
+    )
+
+
+def test_fresh_lesson_starts_as_instinct() -> None:
+    lesson = _lesson(INITIAL_CONFIDENCE, 0)
+
+    assert lesson.state is LessonState.INSTINCT
+
+
+def test_pattern_threshold_tie_does_not_promote() -> None:
+    lesson = _lesson(PATTERN_THRESHOLD, MIN_APPLICATIONS_FOR_PATTERN)
+
+    active, graduated = graduate([lesson])
+
+    assert lesson.state is LessonState.INSTINCT
+    assert active == [lesson]
+    assert graduated == []
+
+
+def test_above_pattern_threshold_with_enough_fires_promotes() -> None:
+    lesson = _lesson(PATTERN_THRESHOLD + 0.01, MIN_APPLICATIONS_FOR_PATTERN)
+
+    graduate([lesson])
+
+    assert lesson.state is LessonState.PATTERN
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_middleware_core.py b/Gradata/tests/test_middleware_core.py
index a1339110..d3de676b 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_middleware_core.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_middleware_core.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ def test_build_brain_rules_block_wraps_in_xml():
     block = build_brain_rules_block(src)
     assert block.startswith("<brain-rules>")
     assert block.endswith("</brain-rules>")
-    assert "[RULE:0.95]" in block
+    assert "[RULE]" in block
+    assert "[RULE:" not in block
     assert "TONE" in block
 
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ def test_build_brain_rules_block_respects_max_rules():
     ]
     src = RuleSource(lessons=lessons, max_rules=5)
     block = build_brain_rules_block(src)
-    assert block.count("[RULE:") == 5
+    assert block.count("[RULE]") == 5
 
 
 def test_check_output_finds_em_dash_violation():
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_retrieval_fusion.py b/Gradata/tests/test_retrieval_fusion.py
index 5f442e8b..f25aae41 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_retrieval_fusion.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_retrieval_fusion.py
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from gradata.enhancements.retrieval_fusion import (
+from gradata.enhancements.scoring.retrieval_fusion import (
     MergedRule,
     ScoredRule,
     apply_correction_boost,
     reciprocal_rank_fusion,
 )
 
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Helpers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_graduated_events.py b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_graduated_events.py
index 496c3a20..d82b35f7 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_graduated_events.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_graduated_events.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ def test_instinct_to_pattern_emits_rule_graduated(tmp_path):
     assert data["fire_count"] == 5
 
 
-def test_pattern_to_rule_emits_rule_graduated(tmp_path):
+def test_pattern_to_rule_emits_rule_graduated(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
     brain = init_brain(tmp_path)
     lesson = Lesson(
         date="2026-04-21",
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_pipeline.py b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_pipeline.py
index 53d77b93..7ef77f12 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_pipeline.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_pipeline.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def test_pipeline_does_not_graduate_instinct_below_threshold(tmp_path: Path) ->
     assert result.graduated == []
 
 
-def test_pipeline_graduates_pattern_to_rule(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+def test_pipeline_graduates_pattern_to_rule(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch) -> None:
     """PATTERN lesson at 0.90 confidence with >= 5 fires graduates to RULE.
 
     C2 fix: MIN_APPLICATIONS_FOR_RULE was accidentally lowered to 3 in
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ def test_pipeline_graduates_pattern_to_rule(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     which only passed because of the bug. Updated to fire_count=5 which is
     the correct threshold.
     """
+    monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
     lesson = _make_lesson(
         state=LessonState.PATTERN,
         confidence=0.90,
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ def test_pipeline_handles_missing_retrieval_fusion_module(tmp_path: Path) -> Non
     _write_lessons(lessons_path, [lesson])
     db_path = tmp_path / "system.db"
 
-    with patch.dict(sys.modules, {"gradata.enhancements.retrieval_fusion": None}):
+    with patch.dict(sys.modules, {"gradata.enhancements.scoring.retrieval_fusion": None}):
         result = run_rule_pipeline(lessons_path, db_path, current_session=5)
 
     assert not any("retrieval_fusion" in e for e in result.errors)
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook.py b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook.py
index 756705b1..430c8796 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook.py
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ def test_graduate_promotes_and_installs_hook_for_em_dash(self, tmp_path, monkeyp
         from datetime import UTC as _UTC
         from datetime import datetime as _dt
 
+        monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
         monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_HOOK_ROOT", str(tmp_path))
         from gradata import _paths as _p
         from gradata._types import Lesson, LessonState
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook_promotion.py b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook_promotion.py
index d0cee0ed..28b3ee87 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook_promotion.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_rule_to_hook_promotion.py
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ def test_graduation_auto_promotes_deterministic_rule(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     from gradata.enhancements.self_improvement import graduate
 
     hook_dir = tmp_path / "pre-tool" / "generated"
+    monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
     monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_HOOK_ROOT", str(hook_dir))
 
     # Satisfy the council empirical gate: fire_count>=10 and >=3 distinct
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_safety_assertion.py b/Gradata/tests/test_safety_assertion.py
index 01ec373e..e195c13a 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_safety_assertion.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_safety_assertion.py
@@ -80,8 +80,9 @@ def test_no_rule_without_5_fires(self) -> None:
             f"Promoted to {lesson.state} with only {lesson.fire_count} fires"
         )
 
-    def test_rule_with_5_fires(self) -> None:
+    def test_rule_with_5_fires(self, monkeypatch) -> None:
         """PATTERN -> RULE succeeds with 5+ fires and sufficient confidence."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
         lesson = _make_lesson(
             state=LessonState.PATTERN,
             confidence=RULE_THRESHOLD + 0.01,
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_score_obfuscation_gate.py b/Gradata/tests/test_score_obfuscation_gate.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d326136f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_score_obfuscation_gate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+
+from gradata import Brain
+from gradata.middleware._core import RuleSource, build_brain_rules_block
+
+_RAW_CONFIDENCE_FLOAT = re.compile(r"(?<![\w.])(?:0(?:\.\d+)?|1(?:\.0+)?)(?![\w.])")
+
+
+def _assert_no_raw_confidence_float(prompt: str) -> None:
+    leaks = _RAW_CONFIDENCE_FLOAT.findall(prompt)
+    assert not leaks, f"raw confidence float leaked into prompt-bound text: {prompt}"
+
+
+def test_apply_brain_rules_prompt_does_not_leak_raw_confidence(tmp_path) -> None:
+    brain = Brain.init(
+        tmp_path / "brain",
+        name="ObfuscationGate",
+        domain="Testing",
+        embedding="local",
+        interactive=False,
+    )
+    result = brain.add_rule(
+        "Prefer concrete dates over relative dates",
+        "PROCESS",
+        state="RULE",
+        confidence=0.95,
+    )
+    assert result["added"] is True
+
+    prompt = brain.apply_brain_rules("write a status update", max_rules=5)
+
+    assert "<brain-rules>" in prompt
+    _assert_no_raw_confidence_float(prompt)
+
+
+def test_middleware_brain_rules_block_does_not_leak_raw_confidence() -> None:
+    source = RuleSource(
+        lessons=[
+            {
+                "state": "RULE",
+                "confidence": 0.95,
+                "category": "PROCESS",
+                "description": "Prefer concrete dates over relative dates",
+            },
+            {
+                "state": "PATTERN",
+                "confidence": 0.72,
+                "category": "STYLE",
+                "description": "Keep summaries short",
+            },
+        ]
+    )
+
+    prompt = build_brain_rules_block(source)
+
+    assert "<brain-rules>" in prompt
+    _assert_no_raw_confidence_float(prompt)
diff --git a/Gradata/tests/test_wiring_compound.py b/Gradata/tests/test_wiring_compound.py
index f35175d2..dc531d0e 100644
--- a/Gradata/tests/test_wiring_compound.py
+++ b/Gradata/tests/test_wiring_compound.py
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ def test_monotone_in_alpha(self):
 
 
 class TestBetaLBGate:
-    def test_gate_disabled_by_default_allows_promotion(self, monkeypatch):
+    def test_gate_can_be_disabled_to_allow_promotion(self, monkeypatch):
         from gradata._types import Lesson, LessonState
         from gradata.enhancements.self_improvement import _passes_beta_lb_gate
 
-        monkeypatch.delenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setenv("GRADATA_BETA_LB_GATE", "0")
         lesson = Lesson(
             date="2026-04-15", category="test", description="test rule",
             state=LessonState.PATTERN, confidence=0.95, fire_count=5,