Task 2.4: Relocates negative-tail compression from R6 reward-layer
(asymmetric_soft_clamp at experience_kernels.cu:78-81) to C51 Bellman
target smoothing (c51_loss_kernel.cu::block_bellman_project_f).
Functionality preserved — same invariant, better location. Upper +10
cap kept inline as fminf(reward, 10.0f) for numerical safety.
Deletions (reward layer — R6 no longer shapes the reward itself):
- asymmetric_soft_clamp() from experience_kernels.cu:78-81 (no callers)
- Reward-layer clamp replaced with fminf(reward, 10.0f) at ~1922
(segment_complete) + ~3049 (hindsight_relabel opt_reward)
- la slot from reward_contrib_fractions (was slot 4; tuple shrinks 5→4)
- loss_aversion_per_sample buffer from GpuExperienceCollector
(field + alloc + kernel arg + dtoh + memset, all removed)
- la={:.3} field from HEALTH_DIAG reward_contrib format string
- loss_aversion assertion from reward_component_audit smoke test
- loss_aversion comment reference in raw_returns comment block
Additions (gradient layer — R6 invariant moves here):
- Huber-style `if t_z < 0 { t_z = -10*(1-exp(t_z/10)); }` in
c51_loss_kernel.cu::block_bellman_project_f BEFORE v_min/v_max clamp
- Inline kernel comment documenting the relocation rationale
- Track 2 triage doc updated: R6 verdict DELETE → DELETED / RELOCATED
with landed-relocation notes (both call sites + C51 Bellman edit)
Task 2.5 Bug #6: Stale `patience_mult` docstring at
experience_kernels.cu:1144 referenced the defunct R7 V8 reward (deleted
in Task 0.8). Rewrote the reward-shape docstring to reflect current
post-V7 / Task 0.8 reality (sparse = 2.0 * vol_normalized_return, capped
inline) and notes the R6 relocation. Per feedback_trust_code_not_docs.md.
Per feedback_no_functionality_removal.md: R6's invariant is RELOCATED,
not deleted. The negative-tail compression — which protects against
catastrophic-loss-gradient dominance in the Q update — is now at the
Bellman target smoothing step where the invariant structurally belongs
(reward-inventory §"wrong-level regularization" pattern).
Tolerance band validation (smoke suite at this commit):
magnitude_distribution: F_Half=0.150 F_Full=0.237 (≥0.05 floor ✓)
(H10 eval_dist assertion fails pre-existing at HEAD 90e1e3dbb; not
introduced by this change — verified by running at HEAD before stash
pop, same [EVAL_DIST] 1.000/0.000/0.000 collapse.)
reward_component_audit: cf_flip=0.584 trail=0.304 (cf_flip≥0.1 ✓, PASS)
controller_activity: [CTRL_FIRE] anti_lr=0.000 tau=0.000 gamma=0.000
clip=0.400 cql=0.000 cost=0.000 (PASS)
exploration_coverage: entropy @ep5=0.988 @ep20=0.985 (PASS)
multi_fold_convergence: Best Sharpe 81.54/38.82/84.18 (≥20 floor ✓)
best_val_metric 0.043/0.024/0.049 (baseline was 0.028/0.018/0.019 at
policy-quality-baseline — 26 intervening commits of bug fixes from
Task 2.5 bugs #1–#7 would account for persistent drift; within
run-to-run variance of HEAD-pre-change)