Image build patches vedastro.check_for_update to a no-op after pip install so import cannot hit pypi or upgrade the pin. Free-tier queue waits are capped to VEDASTRO_TIMEOUT_SECONDS and fail fast as free_tier_rate_limited. Gateway status exposes runtime mode as booleans without secrets. BUG-719 resolved; BUG-720 stays investigating until production env is filled in.
