diff --git a/app/assets/css/main.css b/app/assets/css/main.css
index 4b39e60..4167651 100644
--- a/app/assets/css/main.css
+++ b/app/assets/css/main.css
@@ -273,6 +273,14 @@ p a, blockquote a {
   min-width: 0;
 }
 
+/* ---- Nuxt UI placeholder contrast ----
+   Default Nuxt UI placeholder uses `text-dimmed` (#a6a09b) which fails WCAG
+   AA on cream and white backgrounds (≈2.4:1). Override globally to --text-dim
+   so USelect/USelectMenu placeholders meet the 4.5:1 ratio. */
+[data-slot="placeholder"] {
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+}
+
 /* ---- SHARED USelectMenu STYLES ----
    Apply via: <USelectMenu class="zine-select" :ui="{ content: 'tz-content', item: 'tz-item', input: 'tz-input' }" />
    Classes are global (not scoped) because Nuxt UI portals the popup content to body. */
diff --git a/app/pages/join.vue b/app/pages/join.vue
index 32cc816..5a256e8 100644
--- a/app/pages/join.vue
+++ b/app/pages/join.vue
@@ -1017,6 +1017,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
 .checkbox-label a,
 .checkbox-label :deep(a) {
   color: var(--candle);
+  text-decoration: underline;
 }
 
 /* ---- ERROR & SUCCESS BOXES ---- */
diff --git a/app/pages/member/profile.vue b/app/pages/member/profile.vue
index 0679c48..2f7f54f 100644
--- a/app/pages/member/profile.vue
+++ b/app/pages/member/profile.vue
@@ -712,11 +712,11 @@ useHead({
 
 .posts-empty-link {
   color: var(--candle);
-  text-decoration: none;
+  text-decoration: underline;
 }
 
-.posts-empty-link:hover {
-  text-decoration: underline;
+.timezone-select :deep([data-slot="placeholder"]) {
+  color: var(--text-dim);
 }
 
 .posts-list {
diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/about-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/about-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/connections-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/connections-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/events-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/events-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/join-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/join-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-account-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-account-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
index 8f1a75e..676e384 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-dashboard-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-dashboard-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
index 280b1f5..3262023 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-dashboard-mobile-auth-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-dashboard-mobile-auth-chromium-darwin.png
index 5af2e0b..3016712 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-profile-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-profile-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
index 44c77f9..a810ac5 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-profile-mobile-auth-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/member-profile-mobile-auth-chromium-darwin.png
index b6edc45..da76ae2 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
index 132c9ea..aa7d97d 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-detail-desktop-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-detail-desktop-chromium-darwin.png
index 6f05986..af1f86c 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-mobile-chromium-darwin.png b/e2e/__screenshots__/visual/pages.spec.js-snapshots/members-mobile-chromium-darwin.png
index c8f1848..4ef6dec 100644
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diff --git a/e2e/admin-board-channels.spec.js b/e2e/admin-board-channels.spec.js
index 7a2d1e7..91111cf 100644
--- a/e2e/admin-board-channels.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/admin-board-channels.spec.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ test.describe('Admin board channels page', () => {
 
   test('create, edit, and delete a channel', async ({ adminPage }) => {
     await adminPage.goto('/admin/board-channels')
+    await adminPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(adminPage.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Board Channels' })).toBeVisible({
       timeout: 15000,
     })
@@ -18,14 +19,14 @@ test.describe('Admin board channels page', () => {
     const suffix = Date.now().toString().slice(-6)
     const channelName = `e2e-channel-${suffix}`
     const editedName = `e2e-channel-${suffix}-edited`
-    const slackId = `C${suffix}XYZ`
 
     // --- Create ---
+    // Create flow only takes a name; the Slack channel ID is auto-assigned on
+    // creation and only becomes editable in the Edit modal.
     await adminPage.getByRole('button', { name: '+ New Channel' }).click()
     await expect(adminPage.getByRole('heading', { name: 'New Channel' })).toBeVisible()
 
-    await adminPage.locator('input[placeholder="e.g., #coop-formation"]').fill(channelName)
-    await adminPage.locator('input[placeholder="C0123456789"]').fill(slackId)
+    await adminPage.locator('input[placeholder="e.g., coop-formation"]').fill(channelName)
 
     // Select the first available cooperative tag if any are present
     const firstTagCheckbox = adminPage.locator('.tag-select input[type="checkbox"]').first()
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ test.describe('Admin board channels page', () => {
     await row.getByRole('button', { name: 'Edit' }).click()
 
     await expect(adminPage.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Edit Channel' })).toBeVisible()
-    const nameInput = adminPage.locator('input[placeholder="e.g., #coop-formation"]')
+    const nameInput = adminPage.locator('input[placeholder="e.g., coop-formation"]')
     await nameInput.fill(editedName)
     await adminPage.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save Changes' }).click()
 
diff --git a/e2e/auth.spec.js b/e2e/auth.spec.js
index 5b0daca..f7c60f0 100644
--- a/e2e/auth.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/auth.spec.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ test.describe('Authentication flows', () => {
   test('logout clears auth', async ({ page }) => {
     await loginAsAdmin(page)
     await page.goto('/admin')
+    await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(page.locator('.admin-tag')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
 
     // Set up response listener BEFORE clicking to avoid race
diff --git a/e2e/board.spec.js b/e2e/board.spec.js
index 6f2fe7e..945cd4d 100644
--- a/e2e/board.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/board.spec.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Board page', () => {
 
   test('clicking New Post reveals the form', async ({ memberPage }) => {
     await memberPage.goto('/board')
+    await memberPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(memberPage.getByRole('button', { name: '+ New Post' }).first()).toBeVisible({
       timeout: 15000,
     })
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ test.describe('Board page', () => {
 
   test('create, edit, and delete own post', async ({ memberPage }) => {
     await memberPage.goto('/board')
+    await memberPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(memberPage.getByRole('button', { name: '+ New Post' }).first()).toBeVisible({
       timeout: 15000,
     })
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ test.describe('Board page', () => {
     await memberPage.locator('#post-title').fill(originalTitle)
     await memberPage.locator('#post-seeking').fill('Playwright test seeking text')
 
-    await memberPage.getByRole('button', { name: 'Post' }).click()
+    await memberPage.getByRole('button', { name: 'Post', exact: true }).click()
 
     await expect(memberPage.getByRole('heading', { name: originalTitle })).toBeVisible({
       timeout: 10000,
@@ -75,10 +77,10 @@ test.describe('Board page', () => {
       timeout: 10000,
     })
 
-    // --- Delete (confirm dialog) ---
-    memberPage.once('dialog', (dialog) => dialog.accept())
+    // --- Delete (in-card two-step confirm; not a native dialog) ---
     const editedCard = memberPage.locator('article.board-post', { hasText: editedTitle })
     await editedCard.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete' }).click()
+    await editedCard.getByRole('button', { name: 'Confirm' }).click()
 
     await expect(memberPage.getByRole('heading', { name: editedTitle })).not.toBeVisible({
       timeout: 10000,
diff --git a/e2e/join-flow.spec.js b/e2e/join-flow.spec.js
index 919e9ec..0062b95 100644
--- a/e2e/join-flow.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/join-flow.spec.js
@@ -68,8 +68,12 @@ test.describe('Join page — member signup flow', () => {
     await page.locator('#join-name').fill('Test User')
     await expect(page.locator('.form-submit')).toBeDisabled()
 
-    // Fill email too — now all fields are populated and button should be enabled
+    // Fill email — agreement still unchecked, so still disabled
     await page.locator('#join-email').fill('incomplete-test@example.com')
+    await expect(page.locator('.form-submit')).toBeDisabled()
+
+    // Check the Community Guidelines agreement — now all required fields satisfied
+    await page.getByRole('checkbox', { name: /Community Guidelines/ }).check()
     await expect(page.locator('.form-submit')).toBeEnabled()
   })
 
@@ -83,8 +87,9 @@ test.describe('Join page — member signup flow', () => {
     await page.locator('#join-name').fill('E2E Test User')
     await page.locator('#join-email').fill(uniqueEmail)
     await page.locator('#circle-community').check({ force: true })
-    await page.locator('#join-contribution').click()
-    await page.getByRole('option', { name: '$0/mo' }).click()
+    // Contribution is now a numeric input with preset chips, not a select
+    await page.locator('#join-contribution').fill('0')
+    await page.getByRole('checkbox', { name: /Community Guidelines/ }).check()
 
     await expect(page.locator('.form-submit')).toBeEnabled()
 
@@ -93,8 +98,10 @@ test.describe('Join page — member signup flow', () => {
 
     await page.locator('.form-submit').click()
 
-    // Free tier creates subscription then shows confirmation (step 3)
-    await expect(page.locator('.success-box')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
+    // Free tier flips the SignupFlowOverlay into its success state
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Welcome to Ghost Guild!' })
+    ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
   })
 
   test('duplicate email shows error', async ({ page }) => {
@@ -109,12 +116,13 @@ test.describe('Join page — member signup flow', () => {
     await page.locator('#join-name').fill('Dup Test User')
     await page.locator('#join-email').fill(duplicateEmail)
     await page.locator('#circle-community').check({ force: true })
-    await page.locator('#join-contribution').click()
-    await page.getByRole('option', { name: '$0/mo' }).click()
+    await page.locator('#join-contribution').fill('0')
+    await page.getByRole('checkbox', { name: /Community Guidelines/ }).check()
     await page.locator('.form-submit').click()
 
-    // Should show an error about the email already existing
-    await expect(page.locator('.error-box')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 })
-    await expect(page.locator('.error-box')).toContainText(/already/i)
+    // Helcim 409 puts SignupFlowOverlay into its error state
+    const overlayError = page.locator('.signup-flow-overlay .error-box')
+    await expect(overlayError).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 })
+    await expect(overlayError).toContainText(/already/i)
   })
 })
diff --git a/e2e/member-profile.spec.js b/e2e/member-profile.spec.js
index 0fa51c8..22af212 100644
--- a/e2e/member-profile.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/member-profile.spec.js
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ import { test, expect } from './helpers/fixtures.js'
 test.describe('Member profile page', () => {
   test('profile page loads', async ({ adminPage }) => {
     await adminPage.goto('/member/profile')
+    await adminPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     // Auth is checked client-side in onMounted — wait for profile form to render
     await expect(adminPage.getByText('Edit Profile')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
-    await expect(adminPage.getByText('How you appear to other members')).toBeVisible()
+    // Verify a stable structural section label, not transient marketing copy
+    await expect(adminPage.getByText('Show in Member Directory')).toBeVisible()
   })
 
   test('form fields are present', async ({ adminPage }) => {
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ test.describe('Member profile page', () => {
 
   test('bio field accepts input', async ({ adminPage }) => {
     await adminPage.goto('/member/profile')
+    await adminPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(adminPage.getByText('Edit Profile')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
 
     const bio = adminPage.locator('textarea[placeholder*="Share your background"]')
diff --git a/server/middleware/03.rate-limit.js b/server/middleware/03.rate-limit.js
index ac87ef7..5ee6103 100644
--- a/server/middleware/03.rate-limit.js
+++ b/server/middleware/03.rate-limit.js
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const path = getRequestURL(event).pathname
   if (!path.startsWith('/api/')) return
 
+  // Bypass rate limiting in test/dev opt-in mode so parallel E2E runs from a
+  // single IP (127.0.0.1) do not exhaust the per-IP budget. Mirrors the gate
+  // used by /api/dev/* endpoints — only set in development and by Playwright.
+  if (process.env.ALLOW_DEV_TEST_ENDPOINTS === 'true') return
+
   const ip = getClientIp(event)
 
   try {