diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts b/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
index 52a89ea4c..9d7e61548 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ import { resolveServerLocale } from "@/lib/i18n/server-locale";
 import { normalizeLocale } from "@/lib/insights/status-shared";
 import { hasUsableStatusProvider } from "@/lib/insights/status-provider";
 import { hashInsightSnapshot } from "@/lib/insights/snapshot-hash";
+import {
+  applyBriefingShortForm,
+  briefingFormForRecord,
+  buildBriefingShortFormBlock,
+} from "@/lib/insights/briefing-short-form";
 import { featuresInReaderUnits } from "@/lib/insights/features-units";
 import { resolveUnitPreferences } from "@/lib/measurements/display-transform";
 import { enqueueForceWarm } from "@/lib/jobs/insight-pregenerate-shared";
@@ -753,6 +758,10 @@ export const POST = apiHandler((request: NextRequest) =>
       locale,
       await resolveUserTimezone(userId),
     );
+    // v1.43 (#1217) — the short form on the `frugal` usage level; the full
+    // contract on every other level.
+    const briefingForm = await briefingFormForRecord(userId);
+    userPrompt += buildBriefingShortFormBlock(locale, briefingForm);
 
     // v1.12.7 (B5) — inject the curated SOURCES block for the metric sections
     // this briefing actually carries, so a normative claim can cite a real
@@ -1083,6 +1092,9 @@ export const POST = apiHandler((request: NextRequest) =>
         errorCode: "insights.generate.profileScopeChanged",
       });
     }
+    if (briefingForm === "short") {
+      insights = applyBriefingShortForm(insights);
+    }
     const stored = withBriefingGeneratedAt(insights, new Date());
     const committed = await prisma.user.updateMany({
       where: {
@@ -1104,6 +1116,7 @@ export const POST = apiHandler((request: NextRequest) =>
           aboutMe: aboutMe ?? null,
           comparisonBaseline: comparisonSnapshot?.baseline ?? "none",
           generationLocale: locale,
+          ...(briefingForm === "short" ? { briefingForm } : {}),
         }),
       },
     });
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/reasoning/__tests__/controls.test.ts b/src/lib/ai/reasoning/__tests__/controls.test.ts
index 11f6a196f..3e574a3c7 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/reasoning/__tests__/controls.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ai/reasoning/__tests__/controls.test.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
  */
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-const { row } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+const { row, user } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   row: { current: null as unknown, fail: false },
+  user: { level: null as string | null },
 }));
 
 vi.mock("@/lib/db", () => ({
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/db", () => ({
         return row.current;
       }),
     },
+    user: {
+      findUnique: vi.fn(async () => ({ aiUsageLevel: user.level })),
+    },
   },
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/logging/context", () => ({
@@ -27,11 +31,13 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/logging/context", () => ({
 import {
   loadReasoningControls,
   resolveCoachTurnReasoningLevel,
+  resolveJobReasoning,
 } from "../controls";
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   row.current = null;
   row.fail = false;
+  user.level = null;
 });
 
 describe("loadReasoningControls", () => {
@@ -88,3 +94,41 @@ describe("resolveCoachTurnReasoningLevel", () => {
     );
   });
 });
+
+// #1217 — background reasoning per AI usage level.
+describe("resolveJobReasoning by usage level", () => {
+  const chain = [{ providerType: "openai" as const }];
+
+  it("asks for nothing on frugal", async () => {
+    user.level = "FRUGAL";
+    row.current = { aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL", aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD" };
+    expect(
+      await resolveJobReasoning("daily_briefing", chain, "u1"),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it.each(["STANDARD", "FULL"])(
+    "keeps the job's level on %s",
+    async (level) => {
+      user.level = level;
+      row.current = {
+        aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL",
+        aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD",
+      };
+      expect(await resolveJobReasoning("daily_briefing", chain, "u1")).toEqual({
+        effort: "medium",
+        summaries: false,
+      });
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("follows a frugal instance default for an account without a choice", async () => {
+    row.current = {
+      aiUsageMaxLevel: "STANDARD",
+      aiUsageDefaultLevel: "FRUGAL",
+    };
+    expect(
+      await resolveJobReasoning("daily_briefing", chain, "u1"),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/reasoning/controls.ts b/src/lib/ai/reasoning/controls.ts
index 9751573ec..7b1420c36 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/reasoning/controls.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ai/reasoning/controls.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ import { isOperatorFundedProvider } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import type { ProviderChainType } from "@/lib/ai/provider-chain";
 import type { ProviderWorkAuthority } from "@/lib/sharing/provider-work-authority";
 import type { CompletionParams } from "@/lib/ai/types";
+import { loadRecordUsageLevel } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
+import {
+  AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS,
+  type AiUsageLevel,
+} from "@/lib/ai/usage-level";
 import {
   coachReasoningLevel,
   type CoachPrefs,
@@ -167,9 +172,33 @@ export async function loadCoachReasoningState(args: {
 export async function resolveJobReasoning(
   job: BackgroundReasoningJob,
   chain: ReadonlyArray<{ providerType: ProviderChainType }>,
+  /**
+   * v1.43 (#1217) — the record the job runs for. On the `frugal` AI usage
+   * level background jobs do not reason at all; the call goes out as it did
+   * before reasoning existed. Absent: no level applies.
+   */
+  recordId?: string,
 ): Promise<CompletionParams["reasoning"]> {
   // Reasoning is an improvement to a job, never a precondition for it: any
   // failure here sends the call exactly as it went before reasoning existed.
+  if (recordId !== undefined) {
+    let level: AiUsageLevel;
+    try {
+      level = await loadRecordUsageLevel(recordId);
+    } catch {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    if (!AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS[level].backgroundReasoning) {
+      annotate({
+        meta: {
+          ai_reasoning_job: job,
+          ai_reasoning_effort: "off",
+          ai_reasoning_usage_level: level,
+        },
+      });
+      return undefined;
+    }
+  }
   let resolved;
   try {
     resolved = resolveReasoning({
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/document-settings.test.ts b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/document-settings.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52ab86b53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/document-settings.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/**
+ * #1217 — the automatic document read acts only while both the person's
+ * switch is on and their AI usage level allows it. On `frugal` documents are
+ * read on request only; the stored switch is left alone.
+ */
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const db = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  user: { documentsAutoAiRead: true, aiUsageLevel: null as string | null },
+  settings: {
+    aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL",
+    aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD",
+  } as Record<string, unknown> | null,
+  failSettings: false,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/db", () => ({
+  prisma: {
+    user: { findUnique: vi.fn(async () => db.user) },
+    appSettings: {
+      findUnique: vi.fn(async () => {
+        if (db.failSettings) throw new Error("db down");
+        return db.settings;
+      }),
+    },
+  },
+}));
+vi.mock("@/lib/logging/context", () => ({
+  annotate: vi.fn(),
+  getEvent: () => undefined,
+}));
+
+import { documentAutoReadEnabled } from "../document-settings";
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  db.user = { documentsAutoAiRead: true, aiUsageLevel: null };
+  db.settings = { aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL", aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD" };
+  db.failSettings = false;
+});
+
+describe("documentAutoReadEnabled", () => {
+  it.each([
+    ["FRUGAL", false],
+    ["STANDARD", true],
+    ["FULL", true],
+    [null, true],
+  ])("level %s with the switch on reads %s", async (level, expected) => {
+    db.user = { documentsAutoAiRead: true, aiUsageLevel: level };
+    expect(await documentAutoReadEnabled("u1")).toBe(expected);
+  });
+
+  it("stays off with the switch off, whatever the level", async () => {
+    db.user = { documentsAutoAiRead: false, aiUsageLevel: "FULL" };
+    expect(await documentAutoReadEnabled("u1")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("rests on a frugal instance default", async () => {
+    db.settings = {
+      aiUsageMaxLevel: "STANDARD",
+      aiUsageDefaultLevel: "FRUGAL",
+    };
+    expect(await documentAutoReadEnabled("u1")).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/document-settings.ts b/src/lib/documents/document-settings.ts
index e07aeafd5..44731faaf 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/document-settings.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/document-settings.ts
@@ -12,13 +12,21 @@
  *   - the summary job and its catch-up pass run only while it is ON;
  *   - the auto-index-on-upload job stays strictly local when it is OFF and uses
  *     the document-order external pick when it is ON.
+ *
+ * v1.43 (#1217) — on the `frugal` AI usage level the setting rests: documents
+ * are read on request only, whatever the switch says, and the switch acts
+ * again as soon as the level allows it. The stored choice is never changed.
  */
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/db";
+import { loadRecordUsageLevel } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
+import { AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS } from "@/lib/ai/usage-level";
 
 /**
- * True when the user has opted into automatic AI reading of uploaded documents.
- * A missing row (deleted account raced against a job) resolves to `false` —
- * fail-closed to the local-first posture, never to external egress.
+ * True when the user has opted into automatic AI reading of uploaded documents
+ * and their AI usage level lets the opt-in act. A missing row (deleted account
+ * raced against a job) resolves to `false` — fail-closed to the local-first
+ * posture, never to external egress; so does a usage level that cannot be
+ * read.
  */
 export async function documentAutoReadEnabled(
   userId: string,
@@ -27,5 +35,11 @@ export async function documentAutoReadEnabled(
     where: { id: userId },
     select: { documentsAutoAiRead: true },
   });
-  return row?.documentsAutoAiRead ?? false;
+  if (!(row?.documentsAutoAiRead ?? false)) return false;
+  try {
+    const level = await loadRecordUsageLevel(userId);
+    return AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS[level].documentsAutoRead;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/briefing-short-form.test.ts b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/briefing-short-form.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..394757fa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/briefing-short-form.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+/**
+ * #1217 — the briefing's short form on the `frugal` usage level. The contract
+ * keeps its shape on every level: `recommendations` stays present (the
+ * native client decodes it as a required array), only shorter on `frugal`,
+ * and untouched on `standard` and `full`.
+ */
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { aiInsightResponseSchema } from "@/lib/ai/schema";
+import { AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS, AI_USAGE_LEVELS } from "@/lib/ai/usage-level";
+import {
+  SHORT_FORM_LIMITS,
+  applyBriefingShortForm,
+  buildBriefingShortFormBlock,
+} from "@/lib/insights/briefing-short-form";
+
+function rec(id: string) {
+  return {
+    id,
+    text: `Recommendation ${id}`,
+    severity: "suggestion",
+    metricSource: {
+      type: "bloodPressure",
+      timeRange: "last30days",
+      summary: "avg 128/82",
+    },
+    rationale: {
+      dataWindow: "last30days",
+      comparedTo: "your 90-day median",
+      deviation: "+4 mmHg",
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function finding(n: number) {
+  return {
+    tone: "info",
+    headline: `Finding ${n}`,
+    detail: "One sentence.",
+    delta: null,
+    sourceWindow: "30d",
+    sourceMetric: "bp",
+  };
+}
+
+const PAYLOAD = {
+  summary: "A steady day.",
+  recommendations: [rec("rec-1"), rec("rec-2"), rec("rec-3")],
+  citations: [
+    { type: "bloodPressure", timeRange: "last30days", summary: "avg 128/82" },
+  ],
+  warnings: [],
+  dailyBriefing: {
+    paragraph: "Today reads like a steady day.",
+    keyFindings: [finding(1), finding(2), finding(3), finding(4)],
+  },
+  trendAnnotations: { bp: "Steady over the month." },
+  storyboardAnnotations: [],
+};
+
+describe("briefing form per usage level", () => {
+  it("keeps the full contract on standard and full, the short form on frugal", () => {
+    expect(
+      AI_USAGE_LEVELS.map((level) => AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS[level].briefing),
+    ).toEqual(["short", "full", "full"]);
+  });
+
+  it("adds nothing to the prompt for the full form", () => {
+    expect(buildBriefingShortFormBlock("en", "full")).toBe("");
+    expect(buildBriefingShortFormBlock("de", "full")).toBe("");
+  });
+
+  it("asks for at most one recommendation on the short form, field kept", () => {
+    const en = buildBriefingShortFormBlock("en", "short");
+    expect(en).toContain('"recommendations": at most 1');
+    expect(en).toContain("every required field");
+    expect(buildBriefingShortFormBlock("de", "short")).toContain(
+      '"recommendations": höchstens 1',
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe("applyBriefingShortForm", () => {
+  it("validates against the briefing schema before and after", () => {
+    expect(aiInsightResponseSchema.safeParse(PAYLOAD).success).toBe(true);
+    const short = applyBriefingShortForm(PAYLOAD);
+    const parsed = aiInsightResponseSchema.safeParse(short);
+    expect(parsed.success).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps recommendations present, at most one", () => {
+    const short = applyBriefingShortForm(PAYLOAD);
+    expect(Array.isArray(short.recommendations)).toBe(true);
+    expect(short.recommendations).toHaveLength(
+      SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.recommendations,
+    );
+    expect(short.recommendations[0]!.id).toBe("rec-1");
+    expect(short.dailyBriefing.keyFindings).toHaveLength(
+      SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.keyFindings,
+    );
+    expect(short).not.toHaveProperty("trendAnnotations");
+    expect(short).not.toHaveProperty("storyboardAnnotations");
+    // Every required field of the contract is still there.
+    for (const key of ["summary", "recommendations", "citations", "warnings"]) {
+      expect(short).toHaveProperty(key);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("keeps an empty recommendation list an empty list", () => {
+    const short = applyBriefingShortForm({ ...PAYLOAD, recommendations: [] });
+    expect(short.recommendations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves the input untouched", () => {
+    const before = structuredClone(PAYLOAD);
+    applyBriefingShortForm(PAYLOAD);
+    expect(PAYLOAD).toEqual(before);
+  });
+
+  it("passes a non-object through", () => {
+    expect(applyBriefingShortForm(null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/comprehensive-generate-force.test.ts b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/comprehensive-generate-force.test.ts
index e9accd527..55a5865fd 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/comprehensive-generate-force.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/comprehensive-generate-force.test.ts
@@ -495,3 +495,83 @@ describe("generateComprehensiveInsight — content-hash gate (v1.16.8)", () => {
     expect(runRawCompletionWithFallback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 });
+
+// #1217 — the frugal usage level asks for the short briefing and holds its
+// counts; the fingerprint carries the form so a level change regenerates.
+describe("generateComprehensiveInsight — usage level", () => {
+  const reply = {
+    summary: "s",
+    recommendations: ["a", "b", "c"].map((id) => ({
+      id,
+      text: `Keep walking ${id}`,
+      severity: "info",
+    })),
+    citations: [],
+    warnings: [],
+    dailyBriefing: { paragraph: "p" },
+  };
+
+  function arrange(aiUsageLevel: string | null) {
+    resolveProviderChain.mockResolvedValue([
+      { providerType: "openai", instance: {} },
+    ]);
+    findUnique.mockResolvedValue({
+      insightsPrivacyMode: "aggregated",
+      insightsCachedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 26 * 60 * 60 * 1000),
+      insightsCachedText: JSON.stringify({ dailyBriefing: { p: "old" } }),
+      insightsExcludeMetrics: [],
+      insightsSnapshotHash: FEATURES_HASH,
+      aiUsageLevel,
+    });
+    runRawCompletionWithFallback.mockResolvedValue({
+      result: {
+        content: JSON.stringify(reply),
+        tokensUsed: 10,
+        providerType: "openai",
+        model: "m",
+      },
+      workingProvider: { providerType: "openai" },
+      fallbackHops: [],
+    });
+  }
+
+  function storedPayload() {
+    const write = userUpdate.mock.calls.find(
+      (c) =>
+        (c[0] as { data: Record<string, unknown> }).data.insightsCachedText !==
+        undefined,
+    );
+    const data = (write![0] as { data: Record<string, unknown> }).data;
+    return {
+      payload: JSON.parse(data.insightsCachedText as string),
+      hash: data.insightsSnapshotHash,
+    };
+  }
+
+  it("asks a frugal account for the short form and keeps one recommendation", async () => {
+    arrange("FRUGAL");
+    const outcome = await generateComprehensiveInsight("u1", {
+      locale: "en",
+      force: true,
+    });
+    expect(outcome.status).toBe("generated");
+    const prompt = JSON.stringify(runRawCompletionWithFallback.mock.calls[0]);
+    expect(prompt).toContain("SHORT FORM");
+    const { payload, hash } = storedPayload();
+    expect(payload.recommendations.map((r: { id: string }) => r.id)).toEqual([
+      "a",
+    ]);
+    expect(hash).not.toBe(FEATURES_HASH);
+  });
+
+  it.each(["STANDARD", "FULL", null])(
+    "keeps the full contract on %s",
+    async (level) => {
+      arrange(level);
+      await generateComprehensiveInsight("u1", { locale: "en", force: true });
+      const prompt = JSON.stringify(runRawCompletionWithFallback.mock.calls[0]);
+      expect(prompt).not.toContain("SHORT FORM");
+      expect(storedPayload().payload.recommendations).toHaveLength(3);
+    },
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/invalidate-status-insights.test.ts b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/invalidate-status-insights.test.ts
index 08a6a8a51..ca0325658 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/invalidate-status-insights.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/invalidate-status-insights.test.ts
@@ -452,7 +452,6 @@ describe("regeneration gap by ingest source", () => {
       source: "manual",
     });
     expect(probedGapHours(before)).toBe(1);
-    expect(appSettingsFindUnique).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it("takes the sync gap from AI_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS when the operator set no value", async () => {
@@ -493,3 +492,67 @@ describe("regeneration gap by ingest source", () => {
     expect(probedGapHours(before)).toBe(24);
   });
 });
+
+// #1217 — the gap per AI usage level: frugal holds a sync to a day and a hand
+// entry to six hours, standard uses the operator's sync gap and the hour,
+// full keeps the hour for both (the behaviour before v1.43).
+describe("regeneration gap by usage level", () => {
+  const cases: Array<
+    [level: string | null, source: "sync" | "manual", hours: number]
+  > = [
+    ["FRUGAL", "sync", 24],
+    ["FRUGAL", "manual", 6],
+    ["STANDARD", "sync", 6],
+    ["STANDARD", "manual", 1],
+    ["FULL", "sync", 1],
+    ["FULL", "manual", 1],
+    // No choice: the instance default (standard).
+    [null, "sync", 6],
+    [null, "manual", 1],
+  ];
+
+  it.each(cases)(
+    "%s after a %s ingest waits %i h",
+    async (level, source, hours) => {
+      userFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({ locale: "de", aiUsageLevel: level });
+      appSettingsFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({
+        aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL",
+        aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD",
+        aiSyncRegenGapHours: null,
+      });
+      const before = Date.now();
+      await invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes("u1", ["ACTIVITY_STEPS"], {
+        source,
+      });
+      expect(probedGapHours(before)).toBe(hours);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("caps a stored full choice at the operator's ceiling", async () => {
+    userFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({ locale: "de", aiUsageLevel: "FULL" });
+    appSettingsFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({
+      aiUsageMaxLevel: "STANDARD",
+      aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD",
+      aiSyncRegenGapHours: 8,
+    });
+    const before = Date.now();
+    await invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes("u1", ["ACTIVITY_STEPS"], {
+      source: "sync",
+    });
+    expect(probedGapHours(before)).toBe(8);
+  });
+
+  it("follows a frugal instance default for an account without a choice", async () => {
+    userFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({ locale: "de", aiUsageLevel: null });
+    appSettingsFindUnique.mockResolvedValue({
+      aiUsageMaxLevel: "STANDARD",
+      aiUsageDefaultLevel: "FRUGAL",
+      aiSyncRegenGapHours: null,
+    });
+    const before = Date.now();
+    await invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes("u1", ["ACTIVITY_STEPS"], {
+      source: "sync",
+    });
+    expect(probedGapHours(before)).toBe(24);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/usage-level-simulation.test.ts b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/usage-level-simulation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f8891903e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/usage-level-simulation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+/**
+ * #1217 — what the usage levels do to a watch-synced account, simulated
+ * deterministically through the real invalidator.
+ *
+ * One day of a phone that delivers a watch's samples every 15 minutes from
+ * 07:00 to 23:00, the morning sleep and recovery figures, two hand-entered
+ * blood-pressure readings and a hand-entered weight. Every scope the
+ * invalidator enqueues counts as one generation, the worst case the issue
+ * describes: today's partial bucket moves on every sync, so the content-hash
+ * gate never short-circuits a sync-driven run. The 04:30 nightly warm
+ * regenerates every scope once on every level and is counted apart.
+ *
+ * The clock, the cache rows and the queue are in memory; the scope mapping,
+ * the per-source gap and the level resolution are the production code.
+ */
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const sim = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  notes: new Map<string, number>(),
+  generations: 0,
+  level: null as string | null,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/db", () => ({
+  prisma: {
+    user: {
+      findUnique: vi.fn(async () => ({
+        locale: "en",
+        aiUsageLevel: sim.level,
+      })),
+    },
+    appSettings: {
+      findUnique: vi.fn(async () => ({
+        aiUsageMaxLevel: "FULL",
+        aiUsageDefaultLevel: "STANDARD",
+        aiSyncRegenGapHours: null,
+      })),
+    },
+    insightStatusCache: {
+      findMany: vi.fn(
+        async (args: {
+          where: {
+            OR: Array<{ metric: string; locale: string }>;
+            generatedAt: { gte: Date };
+          };
+        }) =>
+          args.where.OR.filter(
+            (key) =>
+              (sim.notes.get(key.metric) ?? -Infinity) >=
+              args.where.generatedAt.gte.getTime(),
+          ).map((key) => ({ metric: key.metric, locale: key.locale })),
+      ),
+    },
+  },
+}));
+vi.mock("@/lib/ai/capabilities/gate", () => ({
+  aiCapabilityForRecord: vi.fn(async () => ({
+    available: true,
+    reason: null,
+    onDeviceAllowed: true,
+  })),
+}));
+vi.mock("@/lib/jobs/insight-status-generate-shared", () => ({
+  enqueueStatusGeneration: vi.fn(async (job: { metric: string }) => {
+    sim.generations += 1;
+    sim.notes.set(job.metric, Date.now());
+  }),
+}));
+vi.mock("@/lib/measurements/live-types", () => ({
+  listLiveMeasurementTypes: vi.fn(async () => []),
+}));
+
+import { invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes } from "../status-invalidation";
+import type { MeasurementType } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
+
+type Event = {
+  at: string;
+  source: "sync" | "manual";
+  types: MeasurementType[];
+};
+
+/** One day of a watch account, minute-exact and the same on every run. */
+function day(): Event[] {
+  const events: Event[] = [];
+  for (let minutes = 7 * 60; minutes <= 23 * 60; minutes += 15) {
+    const hh = String(Math.floor(minutes / 60)).padStart(2, "0");
+    const mm = String(minutes % 60).padStart(2, "0");
+    const types: MeasurementType[] = [
+      "ACTIVITY_STEPS",
+      "ACTIVE_ENERGY_BURNED",
+      "WALKING_RUNNING_DISTANCE",
+      "PULSE",
+      "FLIGHTS_CLIMBED",
+    ];
+    if (minutes % 60 === 0)
+      types.push("TIME_IN_DAYLIGHT", "AUDIO_EXPOSURE_ENV");
+    if (minutes % 120 === 0) {
+      types.push("HEART_RATE_VARIABILITY", "WALKING_HEART_RATE_AVERAGE");
+    }
+    if (minutes === 7 * 60) {
+      types.push(
+        "SLEEP_DURATION",
+        "RESTING_HEART_RATE",
+        "RESPIRATORY_RATE",
+        "OXYGEN_SATURATION",
+        "WRIST_TEMPERATURE",
+        "VO2_MAX",
+      );
+    }
+    events.push({ at: `${hh}:${mm}`, source: "sync", types });
+  }
+  events.push(
+    { at: "07:30", source: "manual", types: ["WEIGHT"] },
+    {
+      at: "08:00",
+      source: "manual",
+      types: ["BLOOD_PRESSURE_SYS", "BLOOD_PRESSURE_DIA"],
+    },
+    {
+      at: "20:00",
+      source: "manual",
+      types: ["BLOOD_PRESSURE_SYS", "BLOOD_PRESSURE_DIA"],
+    },
+  );
+  return events.sort((a, b) => a.at.localeCompare(b.at));
+}
+
+const ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM = new Set<string>();
+
+async function simulate(level: string | null): Promise<{
+  warm: number;
+  ingest: number;
+  bySource: Record<"sync" | "manual", number>;
+}> {
+  sim.notes.clear();
+  sim.generations = 0;
+  sim.level = level;
+  // The 04:30 warm regenerates every scope the day will touch.
+  const warmAt = Date.parse("2026-10-15T04:30:00Z");
+  for (const scope of ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM) sim.notes.set(scope, warmAt);
+  const warm = ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM.size;
+  const bySource = { sync: 0, manual: 0 };
+  for (const event of day()) {
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date(`2026-10-15T${event.at}:00Z`));
+    const before = sim.generations;
+    await invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes("u1", event.types, {
+      source: event.source,
+    });
+    bySource[event.source] += sim.generations - before;
+  }
+  return { warm, ingest: sim.generations, bySource };
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.useFakeTimers({ toFake: ["Date"] });
+});
+
+describe("generations per day on a watch-synced account", () => {
+  it("counts the scopes once to seed the warm", async () => {
+    // Discover every scope the day dirties: run it once on `full` with no
+    // warm, which enqueues each scope at least once.
+    ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM.clear();
+    sim.notes.clear();
+    sim.level = "FULL";
+    for (const event of day()) {
+      vi.setSystemTime(new Date(`2026-10-15T${event.at}:00Z`));
+      await invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes("u1", event.types, {
+        source: event.source,
+      });
+    }
+    for (const scope of sim.notes.keys()) ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM.add(scope);
+    expect(ALL_SCOPES_AT_WARM.size).toBe(19);
+  });
+
+  it("before v1.43 (every ingest at one hour) versus each level", async () => {
+    const full = await simulate("FULL"); // the behaviour before v1.43
+    const standard = await simulate("STANDARD");
+    const frugal = await simulate("FRUGAL");
+    const result = { full, standard, frugal };
+    process.stdout.write(`SIMULATION ${JSON.stringify(result)}\n`);
+
+    // Ingest-driven generations a day (the warm adds 19 on every level).
+    expect(full).toEqual({
+      warm: 19,
+      ingest: 122,
+      bySource: { sync: 118, manual: 4 },
+    });
+    expect(standard).toEqual({
+      warm: 19,
+      ingest: 25,
+      bySource: { sync: 20, manual: 5 },
+    });
+    expect(frugal).toEqual({
+      warm: 19,
+      ingest: 2,
+      bySource: { sync: 0, manual: 2 },
+    });
+    // The contract's aim: standard well below a quarter of the old ingest
+    // volume, and below a third with the warm counted.
+    expect(standard.ingest / full.ingest).toBeLessThan(0.25);
+    expect(
+      (standard.warm + standard.ingest) / (full.warm + full.ingest),
+    ).toBeLessThan(0.32);
+    // Hand entries are narrated within the hour on standard, as before; on
+    // full the sync drip had often refreshed the same scope just before.
+    expect(standard.bySource.manual).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+      full.bySource.manual,
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/blood-pressure-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/blood-pressure-status.ts
index 59e2c9c70..e90d9f602 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/blood-pressure-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/blood-pressure-status.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import {
   buildGradedSeriesWithRollups,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import { buildMetricSignal } from "@/lib/insights/metric-signal";
 import {
   type SupportedLocale,
@@ -641,6 +642,7 @@ export async function prepareBloodPressureStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/bmi-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/bmi-status.ts
index 7257869dd..06f213942 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/bmi-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/bmi-status.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   scaleGradedSeries,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import { buildMetricSignal } from "@/lib/insights/metric-signal";
 import {
   type SupportedLocale,
@@ -334,6 +335,7 @@ export async function prepareBmiStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts b/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
index 422ec7fbc..b8646a92c 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export async function runBriefingCompletion(
   // v1.41 — one resolution per call: the operator's switch and cap, the payer
   // from the chain's primary. `undefined` is today's wire.
   const reasoning = args.reasoningJob
-    ? await resolveJobReasoning(args.reasoningJob, args.chain)
+    ? await resolveJobReasoning(args.reasoningJob, args.chain, args.userId)
     : undefined;
   const thinkingTokens =
     reasoning && reasoning.effort !== "off"
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/briefing-short-form.ts b/src/lib/insights/briefing-short-form.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a877735d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/insights/briefing-short-form.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/**
+ * v1.43 (#1217) — the daily briefing's short form, for the `frugal` AI usage
+ * level.
+ *
+ * The person chose the level knowingly, so a shorter briefing is fine there:
+ * the lead and today, at most one recommendation, no trend or storyboard
+ * annotations. The contract keeps its shape on every level: every required
+ * field stays present (`recommendations` is decoded as a required array by
+ * the native client), only shorter. `standard` and `full` keep the full
+ * contract, recommendations included.
+ *
+ * The prompt asks for the short form; {@link applyBriefingShortForm} holds the
+ * counts afterwards, so a model that writes more than asked cannot widen it.
+ */
+import { instructionLocale } from "@/lib/ai/prompts/output-language";
+import { loadRecordUsageLevel } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
+import {
+  AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS,
+  DEFAULT_AI_USAGE_DEFAULT_LEVEL,
+} from "@/lib/ai/usage-level";
+import type { Locale } from "@/lib/i18n/config";
+
+export type BriefingForm = "full" | "short";
+
+/** At most this many entries of each list on the short form. */
+export const SHORT_FORM_LIMITS = Object.freeze({
+  recommendations: 1,
+  signalsOfDay: 2,
+  keyFindings: 2,
+});
+
+/**
+ * The briefing form for one record's level. An unreadable level reads as the
+ * instance default's form.
+ */
+export async function briefingFormForRecord(
+  recordId: string,
+): Promise<BriefingForm> {
+  try {
+    return AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS[await loadRecordUsageLevel(recordId)]
+      .briefing;
+  } catch {
+    return AI_USAGE_LEVEL_EFFECTS[DEFAULT_AI_USAGE_DEFAULT_LEVEL].briefing;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * The block appended to the briefing's user prompt on the short form. Empty
+ * for the full form, so a `standard` or `full` prompt is unchanged.
+ */
+export function buildBriefingShortFormBlock(
+  locale: Locale,
+  form: BriefingForm,
+): string {
+  if (form === "full") return "";
+  if (instructionLocale(locale) === "de") {
+    return `
+
+KURZFORM (vom Nutzer gewählte sparsame KI-Stufe)
+Schreibe dieselbe JSON-Struktur mit allen Pflichtfeldern, nur kürzer:
+- "summary": ein bis zwei Sätze.
+- "dailyBriefing.paragraph": 40 bis 80 Wörter, ein Absatz: das Urteil des Tages und was es für heute heißt.
+- "dailyBriefing.signalsOfDay": höchstens ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.signalsOfDay}; "dailyBriefing.keyFindings": höchstens ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.keyFindings}.
+- "recommendations": höchstens ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.recommendations}, die wichtigste; ein leeres Array, wenn nichts ansteht.
+- "trendAnnotations" und "storyboardAnnotations" weglassen.
+Alle übrigen Regeln gelten unverändert.`;
+  }
+  return `
+
+SHORT FORM (the person chose the frugal AI usage level)
+Write the same JSON structure with every required field, only shorter:
+- "summary": one or two sentences.
+- "dailyBriefing.paragraph": 40 to 80 words, one paragraph: the day's verdict and what it means for today.
+- "dailyBriefing.signalsOfDay": at most ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.signalsOfDay}; "dailyBriefing.keyFindings": at most ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.keyFindings}.
+- "recommendations": at most ${SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.recommendations}, the most important one; an empty array when nothing is due.
+- Leave out "trendAnnotations" and "storyboardAnnotations".
+Every other rule still applies.`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Hold a parsed briefing payload to the short form's counts. Pure: returns a
+ * copy, every field still present. A payload that is not an object comes
+ * back as it was.
+ */
+export function applyBriefingShortForm<T>(payload: T): T {
+  if (!payload || typeof payload !== "object") return payload;
+  const out = { ...(payload as Record<string, unknown>) };
+  if (Array.isArray(out.recommendations)) {
+    out.recommendations = out.recommendations.slice(
+      0,
+      SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.recommendations,
+    );
+  }
+  delete out.trendAnnotations;
+  delete out.storyboardAnnotations;
+  const briefing = out.dailyBriefing;
+  if (briefing && typeof briefing === "object") {
+    const b = { ...(briefing as Record<string, unknown>) };
+    if (Array.isArray(b.signalsOfDay)) {
+      b.signalsOfDay = b.signalsOfDay.slice(0, SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.signalsOfDay);
+    }
+    if (Array.isArray(b.keyFindings)) {
+      b.keyFindings = b.keyFindings.slice(0, SHORT_FORM_LIMITS.keyFindings);
+    }
+    out.dailyBriefing = b;
+  }
+  return out as T;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/comprehensive-generate.ts b/src/lib/insights/comprehensive-generate.ts
index 824681e30..fd714e06e 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/comprehensive-generate.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/comprehensive-generate.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ import {
   stripJsonFences,
   type SupportedLocale,
 } from "@/lib/insights/status-shared";
+import {
+  applyBriefingShortForm,
+  briefingFormForRecord,
+  buildBriefingShortFormBlock,
+} from "@/lib/insights/briefing-short-form";
 import { hashInsightSnapshot } from "@/lib/insights/snapshot-hash";
 import { annotate } from "@/lib/logging/context";
 import { AI_BUDGETS, resolveInsightsMaxTokens } from "@/lib/ai/ai-budgets";
@@ -1008,11 +1013,16 @@ export async function generateComprehensiveInsight(
   const planProgressLines = await buildPlanProgressLines(userId).catch(
     () => [] as string[],
   );
+  // v1.43 (#1217) — the short form on the `frugal` usage level. It joins the
+  // fingerprint only when it applies, so every other account keeps its stored
+  // hash, and a level change regenerates the briefing once.
+  const briefingForm = await briefingFormForRecord(userId);
   const snapshotHash = hashInsightSnapshot({
     features: compactFeatures,
     aboutMe: aboutMe ?? null,
     comparisonBaseline,
     generationLocale: locale,
+    ...(briefingForm === "short" ? { briefingForm } : {}),
     // Absent without an active plan, so an account without one keeps its
     // stored fingerprint; with one, a plan that moves regenerates the
     // briefing the way moved data does.
@@ -1076,6 +1086,7 @@ export async function generateComprehensiveInsight(
     locale,
     await resolveUserTimezone(userId),
   );
+  userPrompt += buildBriefingShortFormBlock(locale, briefingForm);
   const systemPrompt = buildSystemPromptWithReferences(
     locale,
     referenceMetrics,
@@ -1589,6 +1600,11 @@ export async function generateComprehensiveInsight(
     return failBeforeProvider(userId, locale, "aborted");
   }
 
+  // v1.43 (#1217) — the short form holds its counts whatever the model wrote.
+  if (briefingForm === "short") {
+    insights = applyBriefingShortForm(insights);
+  }
+
   // The payload was built under the privacy and profile scope captured before
   // the provider call. Recheck both before the write so an inclusion change
   // cannot be overwritten by stale in-flight content.
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/general-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/general-status.ts
index 837e0339a..d8d0acbba 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/general-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/general-status.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   buildGradedSeriesFromPoints,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import {
   normalizeLocale,
   finalizeStatusSummary,
@@ -418,6 +419,7 @@ export async function prepareGeneralStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/graded-series.ts b/src/lib/insights/graded-series.ts
index c322381bf..57caf5be3 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/graded-series.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/graded-series.ts
@@ -698,9 +698,9 @@ export function convertGradedSeries(
 export const MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS = 14_000;
 
 /**
- * Walk an arbitrary snapshot object and, while it exceeds
- * `MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS` (measured against the compact form the prompt
- * ships), shed the lowest-signal slices in order:
+ * Walk an arbitrary snapshot object and, while it exceeds the cap
+ * (`options.maxChars`, else `MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS`; measured against the
+ * compact form the prompt ships), shed the lowest-signal slices in order:
  *   1. drop every graded `yearly` array,
  *   2. drop every graded `weekly` array,
  *   3. truncate any other array to its tail `arrayTailCap` entries
@@ -714,11 +714,21 @@ export const MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS = 14_000;
  */
 export function degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
   snapshot: Record<string, unknown>,
-  arrayTailCap = 30,
+  options: {
+    /**
+     * v1.43 (#1217) — the cap for this record's AI usage level
+     * (`statusSnapshotChars`, `@/lib/ai/usage-level`). Defaults to
+     * `MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS`.
+     */
+    maxChars?: number;
+    arrayTailCap?: number;
+  } = {},
 ): string[] {
+  const maxChars = options.maxChars ?? MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS;
+  const arrayTailCap = options.arrayTailCap ?? 30;
   const shed: string[] = [];
   const size = () => JSON.stringify(snapshot).length;
-  if (size() <= MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS) return shed;
+  if (size() <= maxChars) return shed;
 
   const walk = (
     node: unknown,
@@ -746,14 +756,14 @@ export function degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
   };
 
   dropField("yearly");
-  if (size() <= MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS) {
+  if (size() <= maxChars) {
     shed.push("yearly");
     return shed;
   }
   shed.push("yearly");
 
   dropField("weekly");
-  if (size() <= MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS) {
+  if (size() <= maxChars) {
     shed.push("weekly");
     return shed;
   }
@@ -769,7 +779,7 @@ export function degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
       parent[key] = value.slice(-arrayTailCap);
     }
   });
-  if (size() <= MAX_SNAPSHOT_CHARS) {
+  if (size() <= maxChars) {
     shed.push("array-tails");
     return shed;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/medication-compliance-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/medication-compliance-status.ts
index 7b6846d3f..977cbffce 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/medication-compliance-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/medication-compliance-status.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/lib/insights/assessment-context";
 import { applyPayloadBudget } from "@/lib/insights/bucket-series";
 import { buildGradedSeriesFromPoints } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import { buildMetricSignal } from "@/lib/insights/metric-signal";
 import { degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
 import {
@@ -405,6 +406,7 @@ export async function prepareMedicationComplianceStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/metric-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/metric-status.ts
index 26b5748ab..1da61d7e5 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/metric-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/metric-status.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ import {
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
   type GradedSeries,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import {
   type SupportedLocale,
   normalizeLocale,
@@ -453,6 +454,7 @@ export async function generateMetricStatus(args: {
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(args.userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/mood-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/mood-status.ts
index 53b4d06dd..355284e78 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/mood-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/mood-status.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import {
   buildGradedSeriesFromPoints,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import { buildMetricSignal } from "@/lib/insights/metric-signal";
 import {
   type SupportedLocale,
@@ -664,6 +665,7 @@ export async function prepareMoodStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/pulse-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/pulse-status.ts
index 1d1901f91..c0cff4dda 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/pulse-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/pulse-status.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   buildGradedSeriesWithRollups,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import { buildMetricSignal } from "@/lib/insights/metric-signal";
 import {
   type SupportedLocale,
@@ -391,6 +392,7 @@ export async function preparePulseStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/status-invalidation.ts b/src/lib/insights/status-invalidation.ts
index aafcc7d47..033b289fa 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/status-invalidation.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/status-invalidation.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import {
 import { annotate } from "@/lib/logging/context";
 import { listLiveMeasurementTypes } from "@/lib/measurements/live-types";
 import { aiCapabilityForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/gate";
+import { loadRecordAiUsage } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
+import { statusRegenGapHours, type IngestSource } from "@/lib/ai/usage-level";
 import type { MeasurementType } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
 
 /**
@@ -39,82 +41,41 @@ import type { MeasurementType } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
  *
  *   - `manual`: a reading the person entered or changed by hand (the web
  *     form, the phone's entry sheet, a Telegram reply, an MCP write, a
- *     delete or restore). It should be narrated the same day, so its gap
- *     stays short.
+ *     delete or restore, a file they chose to import). It should be narrated
+ *     the same day, so its gap stays short.
  *   - `sync`: rows a device or an integration delivered on its own schedule
- *     (Apple Health, Health Connect, Withings, Oura, Fitbit, Polar, WHOOP,
- *     Nightscout, Google Health, a file import, a computed score). A watch
- *     drips these all day, and every drip moves today's partial bucket, so
- *     the content-hash gate cannot catch them; only a longer gap does.
+ *     (the phone's Apple Health sync, Withings, Oura, Fitbit, Polar, WHOOP,
+ *     Nightscout, Google Health, a computed score). A watch drips these all
+ *     day, and every drip moves today's partial bucket, so the content-hash
+ *     gate cannot catch them; only a longer gap does.
  */
-export type StatusIngestSource = "manual" | "sync";
+export type StatusIngestSource = IngestSource;
 
 /**
- * Minimum gap between a scope's last cached (re)generation and the next
- * ingest-driven re-enqueue, for a hand entry. A scope whose cached
- * assessment was (re)generated within the gap is left intact and not
- * re-enqueued.
+ * The minimum gap between a scope's last cached (re)generation and the next
+ * ingest-driven re-enqueue. A scope whose cached assessment was
+ * (re)generated within the gap is left intact and not re-enqueued.
  *
  * History: v1.9.0 introduced the window (30 min) because a constantly
  * syncing client re-enqueued every dirtied scope on every batch. v1.16.8
  * widened it to 6 h for every ingest, which was rolled back to 1 h because a
  * lone 08:00 reading after the 04:30 nightly warm was not narrated the same
- * day. The gap is now chosen by source: a hand entry keeps the hour, a sync
- * gets {@link DEFAULT_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS} (or the operator's value).
+ * day. Since v1.43 (#1217) the gap is chosen by source and by the record's AI
+ * usage level (`statusRegenGapHours` in `@/lib/ai/usage-level`): a hand entry
+ * keeps the hour (six on `frugal`), a sync waits the operator's sync gap on
+ * `standard` (default six hours), a day on `frugal`, the hour on `full`.
  */
-const MANUAL_INGEST_MIN_GAP_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000;
-
-/**
- * The sync gap when neither the operator's setting
- * (`AppSettings.aiSyncRegenGapHours`) nor `AI_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS` names one.
- * Six hours turns a watch's ~16 regenerations per scope and day into ~3.
- */
-export const DEFAULT_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS = 6;
-
-/** The operator's sync gap bounds, shared with the admin setting. */
-export const SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS_MIN = 1;
-export const SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS_MAX = 48;
-
-/** A gap in hours, or null when the value is not a usable whole hour count. */
-function parseGapHours(value: unknown): number | null {
-  const n =
-    typeof value === "number"
-      ? value
-      : typeof value === "string" && value.trim() !== ""
-        ? Number(value)
-        : NaN;
-  if (!Number.isInteger(n)) return null;
-  if (n < SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS_MIN || n > SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS_MAX) return null;
-  return n;
-}
-
-/**
- * The instance's sync gap in hours: the operator's admin setting, else
- * `AI_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS`, else six. An unreadable settings row falls back
- * to the environment, never to a shorter gap.
- */
-export async function loadSyncRegenGapHours(): Promise<number> {
-  let stored: number | null = null;
-  try {
-    const row = await prisma.appSettings.findUnique({
-      where: { id: "singleton" },
-      select: { aiSyncRegenGapHours: true },
-    });
-    stored = parseGapHours(row?.aiSyncRegenGapHours);
-  } catch {
-    stored = null;
-  }
-  return (
-    stored ??
-    parseGapHours(process.env.AI_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS) ??
-    DEFAULT_SYNC_REGEN_GAP_HOURS
+async function ingestRegenGapMs(
+  userId: string,
+  source: StatusIngestSource,
+): Promise<{ gapMs: number; level: string }> {
+  const usage = await loadRecordAiUsage(userId);
+  const hours = statusRegenGapHours(
+    usage.level,
+    source,
+    usage.settings.syncRegenGapHours,
   );
-}
-
-/** The regeneration gap for one ingest, in milliseconds. */
-async function ingestRegenGapMs(source: StatusIngestSource): Promise<number> {
-  if (source === "manual") return MANUAL_INGEST_MIN_GAP_MS;
-  return (await loadSyncRegenGapHours()) * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+  return { gapMs: hours * 60 * 60 * 1000, level: usage.level };
 }
 
 /**
@@ -234,7 +195,7 @@ export async function invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes(
   // only the redundant churn is removed. Past the gap the enqueue always
   // goes through — the worker's content-hash gate decides whether the
   // batch actually changed anything (see the constant's doc).
-  const gapMs = await ingestRegenGapMs(options.source);
+  const { gapMs, level } = await ingestRegenGapMs(userId, options.source);
   const freshScopes = await findRecentlyWarmedScopes(
     userId,
     locale,
@@ -247,7 +208,12 @@ export async function invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes(
   if (staleScopes.length === 0) {
     annotate({
       action: { name: "insights.status.invalidate.debounced" },
-      meta: { skipped: scopes.size, refreshed: 0, source: options.source },
+      meta: {
+        skipped: scopes.size,
+        refreshed: 0,
+        source: options.source,
+        usage_level: level,
+      },
     });
     return;
   }
@@ -270,6 +236,7 @@ export async function invalidateStatusInsightsForTypes(
       skipped: freshScopes.size,
       refreshed: staleScopes.length,
       source: options.source,
+      usage_level: level,
     },
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts b/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
index 6646c9771..954688f65 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ export async function runStatusCompletion(
   // so a refused call never reads the controls. `undefined` (the operator
   // switched reasoning off, or the job resolved off) is today's wire.
   const reasoning = args.reasoningJob
-    ? await resolveJobReasoning(args.reasoningJob, chain)
+    ? await resolveJobReasoning(args.reasoningJob, chain, userId)
     : undefined;
   const thinkingTokens =
     reasoning && reasoning.effort !== "off"
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/weight-status.ts b/src/lib/insights/weight-status.ts
index 59d2d58e4..09dc5328d 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/weight-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/weight-status.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {
   convertGradedSeries,
   degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget,
 } from "@/lib/insights/graded-series";
+import { statusSnapshotCharsForRecord } from "@/lib/ai/capabilities/usage";
 import {
   applyDisplayTransform,
   applyDisplayTransformDelta,
@@ -607,6 +608,7 @@ export async function prepareWeightStatusForUser(
 
   const shed = degradeStatusSnapshotToBudget(
     snapshot as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
+    { maxChars: await statusSnapshotCharsForRecord(userId) },
   );
   const snapshotJson = JSON.stringify(snapshot);