diff --git a/src/backend/controllers/drivers/DriverController.ts b/src/backend/controllers/drivers/DriverController.ts
index c3e28cf43..a84b2c9bb 100644
--- a/src/backend/controllers/drivers/DriverController.ts
+++ b/src/backend/controllers/drivers/DriverController.ts
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ import {
     isDriverStreamResult,
     resolveCallableMethods,
     resolveDriverMeta,
-    resolveDriverMethodConcurrent,
-    resolveDriverMethodRateLimit,
-    resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation,
-    resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription,
+    resolvePerMethod,
 } from '../../drivers/meta.js';
 import { assertActorHasSubscription } from '../../services/metering/enforcement.js';
 import type { PermissionService } from '../../services/permission/PermissionService.js';
@@ -301,16 +298,10 @@ export class DriverController extends PuterController {
         }
         const fn = driver[method];
 
-        // Resolve the concrete driver name for permission keys, falling
-        // back through prototype metadata → instance field → requested name.
-        const resolvedDriverName =
-            (driver as Record<string, unknown>).driverName ??
-            (Object.getPrototypeOf(driver) as Record<string, unknown>)
-                .__driverName ??
-            requestedDriver ??
-            'unknown';
-
         const driverMeta = this.#meta.get(driver);
+        // The concrete driver name, not an alias, keys the permission check.
+        const resolvedDriverName =
+            driverMeta?.driverName ?? requestedDriver ?? 'unknown';
 
         // Drivers flagged `noUserSession` refuse the bare
         // account-session ("root") token: callers must present an app or
@@ -355,13 +346,13 @@ export class DriverController extends PuterController {
         }
 
         // Methods that ask for a trusted-enough account. Declared per-driver
-        // (`@Driver({ requireReputation })`) for the same reason the
+        // (`requireReputation`) for the same reason the
         // subscription block is. Checked ahead of the plan and rate-limit
         // gates, matching the route chain: whether this account should be
         // reaching the method at all is settled before what it pays for or how
         // often it may ask. Inert unless the running config gives the named
         // tier a score.
-        const reputationRequirement = resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(
+        const reputationRequirement = resolvePerMethod(
             driverMeta?.requireReputation,
             method,
         );
@@ -373,13 +364,13 @@ export class DriverController extends PuterController {
             );
         }
 
-        // Subscriber-only methods. Declared per-driver
-        // (`@Driver({ requireSubscription })`) because `/drivers/call` is a
-        // single route and a route option would apply to every driver at once.
+        // Subscriber-only methods. Declared per-driver (`requireSubscription`)
+        // because `/drivers/call` is a single route and a route option would
+        // apply to every driver at once.
         // Checked before the rate limit — the same order the route chain uses
         // — so a caller whose plan never included the method is told that
         // rather than spending a bucket on it.
-        const subscriptionRequirement = resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(
+        const subscriptionRequirement = resolvePerMethod(
             driverMeta?.requireSubscription,
             method,
         );
@@ -398,16 +389,12 @@ export class DriverController extends PuterController {
         }
 
         // Per-method rate-limit and concurrent specs both live on the
-        // driver's resolved meta (set by `@Driver({ rateLimit, concurrent })`
-        // or imperative fields). Rate-limit is single-shot; concurrent
+        // driver's resolved meta. Rate-limit is single-shot; concurrent
         // acquires a slot that must be released when the response is done
         // — we hook `res.finish` / `res.close` for that so streamed
         // responses hold their slot until the stream drains, and aborted
         // requests still give the slot back.
-        const rateLimitSpec = resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(
-            driverMeta?.rateLimit,
-            method,
-        );
+        const rateLimitSpec = resolvePerMethod(driverMeta?.rateLimit, method);
         if (
             !(await checkDriverRateLimit(req, ifaceName, method, rateLimitSpec))
         ) {
@@ -418,10 +405,7 @@ export class DriverController extends PuterController {
             });
         }
 
-        const concurrentSpec = resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(
-            driverMeta?.concurrent,
-            method,
-        );
+        const concurrentSpec = resolvePerMethod(driverMeta?.concurrent, method);
         // Only acquire (and attach release listeners) when the driver
         // actually declared a concurrency cap. Skipping in the unbounded
         // case keeps the hot path free of needless event-listener churn
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/decorators.ts b/src/backend/drivers/decorators.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 51b243e74..000000000
--- a/src/backend/drivers/decorators.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,127 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (C) 2024-present Puter Technologies Inc.
- *
- * This file is part of Puter.
- *
- * Puter is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
- * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
- * (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
- * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-import {
-    DRIVER_CONCURRENT_KEY,
-    DRIVER_DEFAULT_KEY,
-    DRIVER_INTERFACE_KEY,
-    DRIVER_NAME_KEY,
-    DRIVER_NO_USER_SESSION_KEY,
-    DRIVER_RATE_LIMIT_KEY,
-    DRIVER_REQUIRE_REPUTATION_KEY,
-    DRIVER_REQUIRE_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY,
-    validateDriverConcurrent,
-    validateDriverRateLimit,
-    validateDriverRequireReputation,
-    validateDriverRequireSubscription,
-    type DriverConcurrentConfig,
-    type DriverRateLimitConfig,
-    type DriverRequireReputationConfig,
-    type DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig,
-} from './meta';
-
-/**
- * Options for the `@Driver` class decorator. Each policy takes `{ default?,
- * methods? }`; a method covered by neither is ungated (rate limits fall through
- * to the global driver default). See `DriverMeta` for semantics.
- */
-export interface DriverOptions {
-    /** Unique within the interface. Defaults to the class name. */
-    name?: string;
-    /** The default driver for its interface. */
-    default?: boolean;
-    rateLimit?: DriverRateLimitConfig;
-    concurrent?: DriverConcurrentConfig;
-    /** Reject bare account-session tokens on `/drivers/call`. */
-    noUserSession?: boolean;
-    /**
-     * `true` accepts any non-free plan; an array of `SubscriptionPolicy.id`s
-     * only those.
-     */
-    requireSubscription?: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig;
-    /** Reputation tier names; thresholds come from `reputationGate.tiers`. */
-    requireReputation?: DriverRequireReputationConfig;
-}
-
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-type AnyCtor = new (...args: any[]) => any;
-
-/**
- * Class decorator that marks a driver implementation and records its interface
- *
- * - Name on the prototype.
- *
- * Equivalent imperative approach (no decorator needed):
- *
- * ```ts
- * class MyDriver extends PuterDriver {
- *     readonly driverInterface = 'puter-chat-completion';
- *     readonly driverName = 'my-impl';
- *     readonly isDefault = true;
- * }
- * ```
- *
- * Usage:
- *
- * ```ts
- * @Driver('puter-chat-completion', { name: 'openai-completion', default: true })
- * class OpenAIChatDriver extends PuterDriver {
- *     async complete(args) { ... }
- * }
- * ```
- */
-export function Driver(interfaceName: string, opts: DriverOptions = {}) {
-    // Validate eagerly at decoration time so a malformed rateLimit /
-    // concurrent block surfaces during module load — not when the first
-    // request hits the route and the controller resolves driver meta.
-    const label = `@Driver('${interfaceName}'${opts.name ? `, name='${opts.name}'` : ''})`;
-    const rateLimit =
-        opts.rateLimit !== undefined
-            ? validateDriverRateLimit(opts.rateLimit, label)
-            : undefined;
-    const concurrent =
-        opts.concurrent !== undefined
-            ? validateDriverConcurrent(opts.concurrent, label)
-            : undefined;
-    const requireSubscription =
-        opts.requireSubscription !== undefined
-            ? validateDriverRequireSubscription(opts.requireSubscription, label)
-            : undefined;
-    const requireReputation =
-        opts.requireReputation !== undefined
-            ? validateDriverRequireReputation(opts.requireReputation, label)
-            : undefined;
-
-    return <T extends AnyCtor>(
-        value: T,
-        _context: ClassDecoratorContext<T>,
-    ): void => {
-        const proto = value.prototype as Record<string, unknown>;
-        proto[DRIVER_INTERFACE_KEY] = interfaceName;
-        proto[DRIVER_NAME_KEY] = opts.name ?? value.name;
-        proto[DRIVER_DEFAULT_KEY] = opts.default ?? false;
-        if (rateLimit) proto[DRIVER_RATE_LIMIT_KEY] = rateLimit;
-        if (concurrent) proto[DRIVER_CONCURRENT_KEY] = concurrent;
-        if (requireSubscription)
-            proto[DRIVER_REQUIRE_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY] = requireSubscription;
-        if (requireReputation)
-            proto[DRIVER_REQUIRE_REPUTATION_KEY] = requireReputation;
-        if (opts.noUserSession) proto[DRIVER_NO_USER_SESSION_KEY] = true;
-    };
-}
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/index.ts b/src/backend/drivers/index.ts
index 0142762c8..8fb7c1e6f 100644
--- a/src/backend/drivers/index.ts
+++ b/src/backend/drivers/index.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import { SubdomainDriver } from './subdomain/SubdomainDriver';
 import type { IPuterDriverRegistry } from './types';
 import { WorkerDriver } from './workers/WorkerDriver';
 
-export { Driver } from './decorators';
 export { resolveDriverMeta } from './meta';
 
 export const puterDrivers = {
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/meta.test.ts b/src/backend/drivers/meta.test.ts
index 25567584f..88ef5b3e7 100644
--- a/src/backend/drivers/meta.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/drivers/meta.test.ts
@@ -18,29 +18,24 @@
  */
 
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-import { Driver } from './decorators.js';
 import {
     resolveDriverMeta,
     resolveDriverMethodConcurrent,
     resolveDriverMethodRateLimit,
-    resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation,
-    resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription,
-    validateDriverConcurrent,
-    validateDriverRateLimit,
-    validateDriverRequireReputation,
-    validateDriverRequireSubscription,
+    resolvePerMethod,
+    validatePerMethod,
     type DriverConcurrentConfig,
     type DriverRateLimitConfig,
     type DriverRequireReputationConfig,
     type DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig,
 } from './meta.js';
 
-// ── validateDriverRateLimit ─────────────────────────────────────────
+// ── validatePerMethod: rateLimit ─────────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
+describe('validatePerMethod: rateLimit', () => {
     it('returns an empty config for null/undefined input', () => {
-        expect(validateDriverRateLimit(undefined, 't')).toEqual({});
-        expect(validateDriverRateLimit(null, 't')).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(undefined, 't', 'rateLimit')).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(null, 't', 'rateLimit')).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it('accepts a well-formed default + methods block', () => {
@@ -51,39 +46,45 @@ describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
                 set: { limit: 100, window: 60_000, backend: 'redis' },
             },
         };
-        expect(validateDriverRateLimit(cfg, 't')).toBe(cfg);
+        expect(validatePerMethod(cfg, 't', 'rateLimit')).toBe(cfg);
     });
 
     it('rejects a non-object config', () => {
-        expect(() => validateDriverRateLimit(42, 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod(42, 't', 'rateLimit')).toThrow(
             /rateLimit must be an object/,
         );
-        expect(() => validateDriverRateLimit([], 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod([], 't', 'rateLimit')).toThrow(
             /rateLimit must be an object/,
         );
     });
 
     it('rejects non-positive / non-numeric limit and window', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit({ default: { limit: 0, window: 1 } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod(
+                { default: { limit: 0, window: 1 } },
+                't',
+                'rateLimit',
+            ),
         ).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 { default: { limit: 1, window: -10 } },
                 't',
+                'rateLimit',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/window: expected a positive number/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 { default: { limit: 'x', window: 60_000 } },
                 't',
+                'rateLimit',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
     });
 
     it('rejects unknown backend names', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 {
                     default: {
                         limit: 1,
@@ -92,13 +93,14 @@ describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
                     },
                 },
                 't',
+                'rateLimit',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/backend: expected one of/);
     });
 
     it('walks the methods map and labels the failing entry', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 {
                     methods: {
                         goodOne: { limit: 5, window: 60_000 },
@@ -106,13 +108,14 @@ describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
                     },
                 },
                 'drv',
+                'rateLimit',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/drv\.rateLimit\.methods\.badOne\.window/);
     });
 
     it('rejects a non-object methods bag', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit({ methods: [] as unknown }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ methods: [] as unknown }, 't', 'rateLimit'),
         ).toThrow(/methods must be an object/);
     });
 
@@ -126,13 +129,13 @@ describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
                 },
             },
         };
-        expect(validateDriverRateLimit(cfg, 't')).toBe(cfg);
+        expect(validatePerMethod(cfg, 't', 'rateLimit')).toBe(cfg);
     });
 
     it('rejects malformed bySubscription entries on a rate-limit spec', () => {
         // Symmetry with the concurrent validator — bad numbers fail loud.
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 {
                     default: {
                         limit: 1,
@@ -141,14 +144,15 @@ describe('validateDriverRateLimit', () => {
                     },
                 },
                 'drv',
+                'rateLimit',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/drv\.rateLimit\.default\.bySubscription\.user_free/);
     });
 });
 
-// ── resolveDriverMethodRateLimit ────────────────────────────────────
+// ── resolvePerMethod: rateLimit ────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('resolveDriverMethodRateLimit', () => {
+describe('resolvePerMethod: rateLimit', () => {
     const cfg: DriverRateLimitConfig = {
         default: { limit: 100, window: 60_000 },
         methods: {
@@ -157,7 +161,7 @@ describe('resolveDriverMethodRateLimit', () => {
     };
 
     it('returns the per-method spec when one is declared', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(cfg, 'get')).toEqual({
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'get')).toEqual({
             limit: 1000,
             window: 60_000,
             backend: 'memory',
@@ -165,19 +169,19 @@ describe('resolveDriverMethodRateLimit', () => {
     });
 
     it('falls back to the default spec when no method override exists', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(cfg, 'set')).toEqual({
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'set')).toEqual({
             limit: 100,
             window: 60_000,
         });
     });
 
     it('returns undefined when the driver declared no rate-limit at all', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(undefined, 'get')).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(undefined, 'get')).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
     it('returns undefined when neither default nor a matching method is declared', () => {
         expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(
+            resolvePerMethod(
                 { methods: { other: { limit: 1, window: 1 } } },
                 'get',
             ),
@@ -185,53 +189,10 @@ describe('resolveDriverMethodRateLimit', () => {
     });
 });
 
-// ── @Driver decorator: rateLimit propagation ────────────────────────
+// ── resolveDriverMeta: rateLimit ────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('@Driver — rateLimit option', () => {
-    it('stamps a validated rateLimit block onto the prototype, surfacing via resolveDriverMeta', () => {
-        @Driver('test-iface', {
-            name: 'test-impl',
-            rateLimit: {
-                default: { limit: 50, window: 60_000 },
-                methods: {
-                    chat: { limit: 10, window: 60_000, backend: 'redis' },
-                },
-            },
-        })
-        class FakeDriver {}
-
-        const inst = new FakeDriver();
-        const meta = resolveDriverMeta(
-            inst as unknown as Record<string, unknown> & {
-                onServerStart?: () => void;
-                onServerPrepareShutdown?: () => void;
-                onServerShutdown?: () => void;
-            },
-        );
-        expect(meta).not.toBeNull();
-        expect(meta?.rateLimit).toEqual({
-            default: { limit: 50, window: 60_000 },
-            methods: {
-                chat: { limit: 10, window: 60_000, backend: 'redis' },
-            },
-        });
-    });
-
-    it('throws at decoration time on a malformed rateLimit block', () => {
-        // The whole point of eager validation: bad config takes the
-        // module down at boot, not at the first request.
-        expect(() => {
-            @Driver('test-iface', {
-                name: 'broken',
-                rateLimit: { default: { limit: -1, window: 1_000 } },
-            })
-            class BrokenDriver {}
-            void BrokenDriver;
-        }).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
-    });
-
-    it('falls back to imperative `rateLimit` field when no decorator metadata is set', () => {
-        // Imperative drivers (no decorator) declare the field directly.
+describe('resolveDriverMeta — rateLimit', () => {
+    it('reads the `rateLimit` field', () => {
         class Imperative {
             readonly driverInterface = 'imp-iface';
             readonly driverName = 'imp';
@@ -253,7 +214,7 @@ describe('@Driver — rateLimit option', () => {
         });
     });
 
-    it('validates the imperative `rateLimit` field on first read (loud failure)', () => {
+    it('validates the `rateLimit` field on first read (loud failure)', () => {
         class BadImperative {
             readonly driverInterface = 'imp-iface';
             readonly driverName = 'imp-bad';
@@ -274,12 +235,12 @@ describe('@Driver — rateLimit option', () => {
     });
 });
 
-// ── validateDriverConcurrent ────────────────────────────────────────
+// ── validatePerMethod: concurrent ────────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('validateDriverConcurrent', () => {
+describe('validatePerMethod: concurrent', () => {
     it('returns an empty config for null/undefined input', () => {
-        expect(validateDriverConcurrent(undefined, 't')).toEqual({});
-        expect(validateDriverConcurrent(null, 't')).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(undefined, 't', 'concurrent')).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(null, 't', 'concurrent')).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it('accepts a well-formed default + methods block with bySubscription', () => {
@@ -293,30 +254,31 @@ describe('validateDriverConcurrent', () => {
                 },
             },
         };
-        expect(validateDriverConcurrent(cfg, 't')).toBe(cfg);
+        expect(validatePerMethod(cfg, 't', 'concurrent')).toBe(cfg);
     });
 
     it('rejects non-positive / non-numeric limit', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent({ default: { limit: 0 } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ default: { limit: 0 } }, 't', 'concurrent'),
         ).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent({ default: { limit: 'x' } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ default: { limit: 'x' } }, 't', 'concurrent'),
         ).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
     });
 
     it('rejects unknown backend names', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 { default: { limit: 1, backend: 'sqlite' } },
                 't',
+                'concurrent',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/backend: expected one of/);
     });
 
     it('rejects malformed bySubscription entries with a labelled path', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 {
                     default: {
                         limit: 5,
@@ -324,13 +286,14 @@ describe('validateDriverConcurrent', () => {
                     },
                 },
                 'drv',
+                'concurrent',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/drv\.concurrent\.default\.bySubscription\.user_free/);
     });
 
     it('walks the methods map and labels the failing entry', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent(
+            validatePerMethod(
                 {
                     methods: {
                         goodOne: { limit: 5 },
@@ -338,14 +301,15 @@ describe('validateDriverConcurrent', () => {
                     },
                 },
                 'drv',
+                'concurrent',
             ),
         ).toThrow(/drv\.concurrent\.methods\.badOne\.backend/);
     });
 });
 
-// ── resolveDriverMethodConcurrent ───────────────────────────────────
+// ── resolvePerMethod: concurrent ───────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('resolveDriverMethodConcurrent', () => {
+describe('resolvePerMethod: concurrent', () => {
     const cfg: DriverConcurrentConfig = {
         default: { limit: 3 },
         methods: {
@@ -354,77 +318,28 @@ describe('resolveDriverMethodConcurrent', () => {
     };
 
     it('returns the per-method spec when one is declared', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(cfg, 'heavy')).toEqual({
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'heavy')).toEqual({
             limit: 1,
             backend: 'redis',
         });
     });
 
     it('falls back to default for methods not in the map', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(cfg, 'light')).toEqual({
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'light')).toEqual({
             limit: 3,
         });
     });
 
     it('returns undefined when nothing is declared', () => {
-        expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(undefined, 'anything'),
-        ).toBeUndefined();
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodConcurrent({}, 'anything')).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(undefined, 'anything')).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod({}, 'anything')).toBeUndefined();
     });
 });
 
-// ── @Driver — concurrent option ─────────────────────────────────────
+// ── resolveDriverMeta: concurrent ───────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('@Driver — concurrent option', () => {
-    it('stamps a validated concurrent block onto the prototype', () => {
-        @Driver('test-iface', {
-            name: 'cdec',
-            concurrent: {
-                default: { limit: 4 },
-                methods: {
-                    chat: {
-                        limit: 5,
-                        bySubscription: { user_free: 1 },
-                        backend: 'redis',
-                    },
-                },
-            },
-        })
-        class FakeDriver {}
-
-        const inst = new FakeDriver();
-        const meta = resolveDriverMeta(
-            inst as unknown as Record<string, unknown> & {
-                onServerStart?: () => void;
-                onServerPrepareShutdown?: () => void;
-                onServerShutdown?: () => void;
-            },
-        );
-        expect(meta?.concurrent).toEqual({
-            default: { limit: 4 },
-            methods: {
-                chat: {
-                    limit: 5,
-                    bySubscription: { user_free: 1 },
-                    backend: 'redis',
-                },
-            },
-        });
-    });
-
-    it('throws at decoration time on a malformed concurrent block', () => {
-        expect(() => {
-            @Driver('test-iface', {
-                name: 'bad-concurrent',
-                concurrent: { default: { limit: -1 } },
-            })
-            class BrokenDriver {}
-            void BrokenDriver;
-        }).toThrow(/limit: expected a positive number/);
-    });
-
-    it('falls back to imperative `concurrent` field when decorator metadata is absent', () => {
+describe('resolveDriverMeta — concurrent', () => {
+    it('reads the `concurrent` field', () => {
         class Imperative {
             readonly driverInterface = 'imp-iface';
             readonly driverName = 'imp-c';
@@ -445,10 +360,12 @@ describe('@Driver — concurrent option', () => {
 
 // ── requireSubscription ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('validateDriverRequireSubscription', () => {
+describe('validatePerMethod: requireSubscription', () => {
     it('returns an empty config for null/undefined input', () => {
-        expect(validateDriverRequireSubscription(undefined, 't')).toEqual({});
-        expect(validateDriverRequireSubscription(null, 't')).toEqual({});
+        expect(
+            validatePerMethod(undefined, 't', 'requireSubscription'),
+        ).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(null, 't', 'requireSubscription')).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it('accepts booleans and id allowlists', () => {
@@ -456,70 +373,58 @@ describe('validateDriverRequireSubscription', () => {
             default: false,
             methods: { generate: true, generateLong: ['business', 'pro'] },
         };
-        expect(validateDriverRequireSubscription(cfg, 't')).toBe(cfg);
+        expect(validatePerMethod(cfg, 't', 'requireSubscription')).toBe(cfg);
     });
 
     it('rejects a non-object config', () => {
-        expect(() => validateDriverRequireSubscription(42, 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod(42, 't', 'requireSubscription')).toThrow(
             /requireSubscription must be an object/,
         );
-        expect(() => validateDriverRequireSubscription([], 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod([], 't', 'requireSubscription')).toThrow(
             /requireSubscription must be an object/,
         );
     });
 
     it('rejects requirements that name nothing', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireSubscription({ default: [] }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ default: [] }, 't', 'requireSubscription'),
         ).toThrow(/at least one subscription id/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireSubscription({ methods: { a: [1] } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod(
+                { methods: { a: [1] } },
+                't',
+                'requireSubscription',
+            ),
         ).toThrow(/must be strings/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireSubscription({ methods: { a: 'pro' } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod(
+                { methods: { a: 'pro' } },
+                't',
+                'requireSubscription',
+            ),
         ).toThrow(/expected true\/false or an array of ids/);
     });
 });
 
-describe('resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription', () => {
+describe('resolvePerMethod: requireSubscription', () => {
     const cfg: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig = {
         default: true,
         methods: { list: false, generateLong: ['pro'] },
     };
 
     it('prefers a per-method entry over the default', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(cfg, 'list')).toBe(false);
-        expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(cfg, 'generateLong'),
-        ).toEqual(['pro']);
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'list')).toBe(false);
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'generateLong')).toEqual(['pro']);
     });
 
     it('falls back to the default, and to undefined with no config', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(cfg, 'generate')).toBe(
-            true,
-        );
-        expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(undefined, 'generate'),
-        ).toBeUndefined();
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription({}, 'generate')).toBe(
-            undefined,
-        );
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'generate')).toBe(true);
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(undefined, 'generate')).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod({}, 'generate')).toBe(undefined);
     });
 });
 
 describe('resolveDriverMeta — requireSubscription', () => {
-    it('reads the block off the decorator', () => {
-        @Driver('test-iface', {
-            name: 'decorated',
-            requireSubscription: { methods: { generate: true } },
-        })
-        class Decorated {}
-
-        expect(resolveDriverMeta(new Decorated() as never)).toMatchObject({
-            requireSubscription: { methods: { generate: true } },
-        });
-    });
-
     it('validates an imperatively declared block', () => {
         const driver = {
             driverInterface: 'test-iface',
@@ -549,10 +454,12 @@ describe('resolveDriverMeta — requireSubscription', () => {
 
 // ── requireReputation ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-describe('validateDriverRequireReputation', () => {
+describe('validatePerMethod: requireReputation', () => {
     it('returns an empty config for null/undefined input', () => {
-        expect(validateDriverRequireReputation(undefined, 't')).toEqual({});
-        expect(validateDriverRequireReputation(null, 't')).toEqual({});
+        expect(validatePerMethod(undefined, 't', 'requireReputation')).toEqual(
+            {},
+        );
+        expect(validatePerMethod(null, 't', 'requireReputation')).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it('accepts tier names and explicit opt-outs', () => {
@@ -560,70 +467,54 @@ describe('validateDriverRequireReputation', () => {
             default: false,
             methods: { generate: 'standard' },
         };
-        expect(validateDriverRequireReputation(cfg, 't')).toBe(cfg);
+        expect(validatePerMethod(cfg, 't', 'requireReputation')).toBe(cfg);
     });
 
     it('rejects a non-object config', () => {
-        expect(() => validateDriverRequireReputation(42, 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod(42, 't', 'requireReputation')).toThrow(
             /requireReputation must be an object/,
         );
-        expect(() => validateDriverRequireReputation([], 't')).toThrow(
+        expect(() => validatePerMethod([], 't', 'requireReputation')).toThrow(
             /requireReputation must be an object/,
         );
     });
 
     it('rejects requirements that name no tier', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireReputation({ default: '' }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ default: '' }, 't', 'requireReputation'),
         ).toThrow(/non-empty tier name/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireReputation({ methods: { a: true } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod(
+                { methods: { a: true } },
+                't',
+                'requireReputation',
+            ),
         ).toThrow(/expected a tier name, or false/);
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRequireReputation({ methods: { a: 60 } }, 't'),
+            validatePerMethod({ methods: { a: 60 } }, 't', 'requireReputation'),
         ).toThrow(/expected a tier name, or false/);
     });
 });
 
-describe('resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation', () => {
+describe('resolvePerMethod: requireReputation', () => {
     const cfg: DriverRequireReputationConfig = {
         default: 'standard',
         methods: { list: false, generateLong: 'trusted' },
     };
 
     it('prefers a per-method entry over the default', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(cfg, 'list')).toBe(false);
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(cfg, 'generateLong')).toBe(
-            'trusted',
-        );
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'list')).toBe(false);
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'generateLong')).toBe('trusted');
     });
 
     it('falls back to the default, and to undefined with no config', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(cfg, 'generate')).toBe(
-            'standard',
-        );
-        expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(undefined, 'generate'),
-        ).toBeUndefined();
-        expect(
-            resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation({}, 'generate'),
-        ).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(cfg, 'generate')).toBe('standard');
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(undefined, 'generate')).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(resolvePerMethod({}, 'generate')).toBeUndefined();
     });
 });
 
 describe('resolveDriverMeta — requireReputation', () => {
-    it('reads the block off the decorator', () => {
-        @Driver('test-iface', {
-            name: 'decorated-reputation',
-            requireReputation: { methods: { generate: 'standard' } },
-        })
-        class Decorated {}
-
-        expect(resolveDriverMeta(new Decorated() as never)).toMatchObject({
-            requireReputation: { methods: { generate: 'standard' } },
-        });
-    });
-
     it('validates an imperatively declared block', () => {
         const driver = {
             driverInterface: 'test-iface',
@@ -650,3 +541,18 @@ describe('resolveDriverMeta — requireReputation', () => {
         ).toBeUndefined();
     });
 });
+
+describe('deprecated per-method resolver names', () => {
+    it('still resolve, for extensions that import them', () => {
+        const cfg = {
+            default: { limit: 1, window: 1_000 },
+            methods: { send: { limit: 2, window: 1_000 } },
+        };
+        expect(resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(cfg, 'send')).toBe(
+            cfg.methods.send,
+        );
+        expect(
+            resolveDriverMethodConcurrent({ default: { limit: 3 } }, 'x'),
+        ).toEqual({ limit: 3 });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/meta.ts b/src/backend/drivers/meta.ts
index 5a159582d..41aeaa418 100644
--- a/src/backend/drivers/meta.ts
+++ b/src/backend/drivers/meta.ts
@@ -54,27 +54,18 @@ export function isDriverStreamResult(v: unknown): v is DriverStreamResult {
     );
 }
 
-// -- Driver metadata keys --------------------------------------------
+// -- Per-method driver policies ----------------------------------------
 //
-// Metadata keys stored on driver prototypes by the `@Driver` decorator.
-// Imperative drivers set these as instance properties instead.
+// Every policy a driver declares has the same shape: a `default` entry and
+// per-method overrides. `DriverController` resolves the entry for the called
+// method, so methods can differ in limits, plan and reputation floor.
 
-export const DRIVER_INTERFACE_KEY = '__driverInterface' as const;
-export const DRIVER_NAME_KEY = '__driverName' as const;
-export const DRIVER_DEFAULT_KEY = '__driverDefault' as const;
-export const DRIVER_ALIASES_KEY = '__driverAliases' as const;
-export const DRIVER_RATE_LIMIT_KEY = '__driverRateLimit' as const;
-export const DRIVER_CONCURRENT_KEY = '__driverConcurrent' as const;
-export const DRIVER_NO_USER_SESSION_KEY = '__driverNoUserSession' as const;
-export const DRIVER_REQUIRE_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY =
-    '__driverRequireSubscription' as const;
-export const DRIVER_REQUIRE_REPUTATION_KEY =
-    '__driverRequireReputation' as const;
-
-// -- Driver rate-limit config ----------------------------------------
-//
-// Declared per driver; `DriverController` resolves the spec for the requested
-// method, so methods can differ in limits and storage backend.
+/** A driver policy: `default` for any method not listed in `methods`. */
+export interface PerMethodConfig<T> {
+    default?: T;
+    /** Keys are driver method names. */
+    methods?: Record<string, T>;
+}
 
 export const RATE_LIMIT_BACKEND_NAMES = ['memory', 'redis', 'kv'] as const;
 export type RateLimitBackend = (typeof RATE_LIMIT_BACKEND_NAMES)[number];
@@ -90,42 +81,36 @@ export interface DriverRateLimitSpec {
     backend?: RateLimitBackend;
 }
 
-export interface DriverRateLimitConfig {
-    /** Applied to any method not listed in `methods`. */
-    default?: DriverRateLimitSpec;
-    /** Per-method overrides. Keys are driver method names. */
-    methods?: Record<string, DriverRateLimitSpec>;
+export interface DriverConcurrentSpec {
+    /** Maximum simultaneous in-flight requests. */
+    limit: number;
+    /** Per-`SubscriptionPolicy.id` overrides for `limit`. */
+    bySubscription?: Record<string, number>;
+    /** `memory` is per-process; use `redis` on multi-node deployments. */
+    backend?: RateLimitBackend;
 }
 
-/** Validate a driver's `rateLimit` block; throws at boot on a bad shape. */
-export function validateDriverRateLimit(
+export type DriverRateLimitConfig = PerMethodConfig<DriverRateLimitSpec>;
+export type DriverConcurrentConfig = PerMethodConfig<DriverConcurrentSpec>;
+/**
+ * Per-method counterpart of `RouteOptions.requireSubscription`: `/drivers/call`
+ * is one shared route, so a route option would apply to every driver at once.
+ * `undefined` for a method means it is open to every plan.
+ */
+export type DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig =
+    PerMethodConfig<SubscriptionRequirement>;
+/**
+ * Per-method counterpart of `RouteOptions.requireReputation`. A tier is only a
+ * name; the score it takes is deployment config.
+ */
+export type DriverRequireReputationConfig =
+    PerMethodConfig<ReputationRequirement>;
+
+function validateLimitSpec(
     value: unknown,
     label: string,
-): DriverRateLimitConfig {
-    if (value == null) return {};
-    if (typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}: rateLimit must be an object`);
-    }
-    const cfg = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (cfg.default !== undefined) {
-        validateSpec(cfg.default, `${label}.rateLimit.default`);
-    }
-    if (cfg.methods !== undefined) {
-        if (
-            typeof cfg.methods !== 'object' ||
-            cfg.methods === null ||
-            Array.isArray(cfg.methods)
-        ) {
-            throw new Error(`${label}.rateLimit.methods must be an object`);
-        }
-        for (const [name, spec] of Object.entries(cfg.methods)) {
-            validateSpec(spec, `${label}.rateLimit.methods.${name}`);
-        }
-    }
-    return cfg as DriverRateLimitConfig;
-}
-
-function validateSpec(value: unknown, label: string): void {
+    { windowed }: { windowed: boolean },
+): void {
     if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null || Array.isArray(value)) {
         throw new Error(`${label}: expected an object`);
     }
@@ -138,9 +123,10 @@ function validateSpec(value: unknown, label: string): void {
         throw new Error(`${label}.limit: expected a positive number`);
     }
     if (
-        typeof spec.window !== 'number' ||
-        !Number.isFinite(spec.window) ||
-        spec.window <= 0
+        windowed &&
+        (typeof spec.window !== 'number' ||
+            !Number.isFinite(spec.window) ||
+            spec.window <= 0)
     ) {
         throw new Error(`${label}.window: expected a positive number (ms)`);
     }
@@ -172,52 +158,43 @@ function validateBySubscription(value: unknown, label: string): void {
     }
 }
 
-/**
- * Resolve the spec that applies to a given method on a driver. Per-method entry
- * wins over `default`; returns `undefined` if neither is set so the caller can
- * apply its own fallback.
- */
-export function resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(
-    cfg: DriverRateLimitConfig | undefined,
-    method: string,
-): DriverRateLimitSpec | undefined {
-    if (!cfg) return undefined;
-    return cfg.methods?.[method] ?? cfg.default;
-}
+/** The entry validator for each policy a driver may declare. */
+const POLICY_ENTRY_VALIDATORS = {
+    rateLimit: (value: unknown, label: string) =>
+        validateLimitSpec(value, label, { windowed: true }),
+    concurrent: (value: unknown, label: string) =>
+        validateLimitSpec(value, label, { windowed: false }),
+    requireSubscription: validateSubscriptionRequirement,
+    requireReputation: validateReputationRequirement,
+};
 
-// -- Driver concurrent-limit config ----------------------------------
+export type DriverPolicyName = keyof typeof POLICY_ENTRY_VALIDATORS;
 
-export interface DriverConcurrentSpec {
-    /** Maximum simultaneous in-flight requests. */
-    limit: number;
-    /** Per-`SubscriptionPolicy.id` overrides for `limit`. */
-    bySubscription?: Record<string, number>;
-    /** `memory` is per-process; use `redis` on multi-node deployments. */
-    backend?: RateLimitBackend;
-}
-
-export interface DriverConcurrentConfig {
-    /** Applied to any method not listed in `methods`. */
-    default?: DriverConcurrentSpec;
-    /** Per-method overrides. Keys are driver method names. */
-    methods?: Record<string, DriverConcurrentSpec>;
+interface DriverPolicyConfigs {
+    rateLimit: DriverRateLimitConfig;
+    concurrent: DriverConcurrentConfig;
+    requireSubscription: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig;
+    requireReputation: DriverRequireReputationConfig;
 }
 
 /**
- * Validate a `concurrent` block. Mirrors `validateDriverRateLimit` — throws
- * with a labelled path so a malformed entry surfaces at boot.
+ * Validate a driver's `policy` block. Throws with a labelled path at
+ * registration, so a malformed entry surfaces at boot rather than on the first
+ * call.
  */
-export function validateDriverConcurrent(
+export function validatePerMethod<K extends DriverPolicyName>(
     value: unknown,
     label: string,
-): DriverConcurrentConfig {
+    policy: K,
+): DriverPolicyConfigs[K] {
     if (value == null) return {};
     if (typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}: concurrent must be an object`);
+        throw new Error(`${label}: ${policy} must be an object`);
     }
+    const validateEntry = POLICY_ENTRY_VALIDATORS[policy];
     const cfg = value as Record<string, unknown>;
     if (cfg.default !== undefined) {
-        validateConcurrentSpec(cfg.default, `${label}.concurrent.default`);
+        validateEntry(cfg.default, `${label}.${policy}.default`);
     }
     if (cfg.methods !== undefined) {
         if (
@@ -225,193 +202,38 @@ export function validateDriverConcurrent(
             cfg.methods === null ||
             Array.isArray(cfg.methods)
         ) {
-            throw new Error(`${label}.concurrent.methods must be an object`);
+            throw new Error(`${label}.${policy}.methods must be an object`);
         }
-        for (const [name, spec] of Object.entries(cfg.methods)) {
-            validateConcurrentSpec(spec, `${label}.concurrent.methods.${name}`);
+        for (const [name, entry] of Object.entries(cfg.methods)) {
+            validateEntry(entry, `${label}.${policy}.methods.${name}`);
         }
     }
-    return cfg as DriverConcurrentConfig;
-}
-
-function validateConcurrentSpec(value: unknown, label: string): void {
-    if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null || Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}: expected an object`);
-    }
-    const spec = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (
-        typeof spec.limit !== 'number' ||
-        !Number.isFinite(spec.limit) ||
-        spec.limit <= 0
-    ) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}.limit: expected a positive number`);
-    }
-    if (spec.backend !== undefined) {
-        if (
-            typeof spec.backend !== 'string' ||
-            !RATE_LIMIT_BACKEND_NAMES.includes(spec.backend as RateLimitBackend)
-        ) {
-            throw new Error(
-                `${label}.backend: expected one of ${RATE_LIMIT_BACKEND_NAMES.join(', ')}`,
-            );
-        }
-    }
-    if (spec.bySubscription !== undefined) {
-        validateBySubscription(spec.bySubscription, label);
-    }
+    return cfg as DriverPolicyConfigs[K];
 }
 
 /**
- * Resolve the concurrent spec for a given method on a driver. Same precedence
- * as `resolveDriverMethodRateLimit`: per-method wins over `default`;
- * `undefined` means no concurrency cap is declared, and the caller should leave
- * the method unbounded.
+ * The entry that applies to `method`: its own, else `default`, else `undefined`
+ * (the caller decides what an undeclared policy means).
  */
-export function resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(
-    cfg: DriverConcurrentConfig | undefined,
+export function resolvePerMethod<T>(
+    cfg: PerMethodConfig<T> | undefined,
     method: string,
-): DriverConcurrentSpec | undefined {
+): T | undefined {
     if (!cfg) return undefined;
     return cfg.methods?.[method] ?? cfg.default;
 }
 
-// -- Driver subscription requirement ---------------------------------
-//
-// Per-method counterpart of `RouteOptions.requireSubscription`. It lives on the
-// driver for the same reason `noUserSession` does: `/drivers/call` is one
-// shared route, so a requirement declared in route options would apply to every
-// driver at once.
-
-export interface DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig {
-    /** Applied to any method not listed in `methods`. */
-    default?: SubscriptionRequirement;
-    /** Per-method overrides. Keys are driver method names. */
-    methods?: Record<string, SubscriptionRequirement>;
-}
+/** @deprecated Use `resolvePerMethod`; kept for extensions still on it. */
+export const resolveDriverMethodRateLimit =
+    resolvePerMethod<DriverRateLimitSpec>;
+/** @deprecated Use `resolvePerMethod`; kept for extensions still on it. */
+export const resolveDriverMethodConcurrent =
+    resolvePerMethod<DriverConcurrentSpec>;
 
 /**
- * Validate a `requireSubscription` block. Same loud-at-boot contract as the
- * rate-limit and concurrent validators.
- */
-export function validateDriverRequireSubscription(
-    value: unknown,
-    label: string,
-): DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig {
-    if (value == null) return {};
-    if (typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}: requireSubscription must be an object`);
-    }
-    const cfg = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (cfg.default !== undefined) {
-        validateSubscriptionRequirement(
-            cfg.default,
-            `${label}.requireSubscription.default`,
-        );
-    }
-    if (cfg.methods !== undefined) {
-        if (
-            typeof cfg.methods !== 'object' ||
-            cfg.methods === null ||
-            Array.isArray(cfg.methods)
-        ) {
-            throw new Error(
-                `${label}.requireSubscription.methods must be an object`,
-            );
-        }
-        for (const [name, requirement] of Object.entries(cfg.methods)) {
-            validateSubscriptionRequirement(
-                requirement,
-                `${label}.requireSubscription.methods.${name}`,
-            );
-        }
-    }
-    return cfg as DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig;
-}
-
-/**
- * Resolve the subscription requirement for a method. Same precedence as the
- * other per-method resolvers: an entry in `methods` wins over `default`, and
- * `undefined` means the method is open to every plan.
- */
-export function resolveDriverMethodRequireSubscription(
-    cfg: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig | undefined,
-    method: string,
-): SubscriptionRequirement | undefined {
-    if (!cfg) return undefined;
-    return cfg.methods?.[method] ?? cfg.default;
-}
-
-// -- Driver reputation requirement -----------------------------------
-//
-// Per-method counterpart of `RouteOptions.requireReputation`, on the driver
-// for the same reason the subscription block is: `/drivers/call` is one shared
-// route, so a requirement in route options would apply to every driver at
-// once. The tier named here is only a name — the score it takes is deployment
-// config, so a driver never carries the number it is worth.
-
-export interface DriverRequireReputationConfig {
-    /** Applied to any method not listed in `methods`. */
-    default?: ReputationRequirement;
-    /** Per-method overrides. Keys are driver method names. */
-    methods?: Record<string, ReputationRequirement>;
-}
-
-/**
- * Validate a `requireReputation` block. Same loud-at-boot contract as the
- * rate-limit, concurrent, and subscription validators.
- */
-export function validateDriverRequireReputation(
-    value: unknown,
-    label: string,
-): DriverRequireReputationConfig {
-    if (value == null) return {};
-    if (typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${label}: requireReputation must be an object`);
-    }
-    const cfg = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (cfg.default !== undefined) {
-        validateReputationRequirement(
-            cfg.default,
-            `${label}.requireReputation.default`,
-        );
-    }
-    if (cfg.methods !== undefined) {
-        if (
-            typeof cfg.methods !== 'object' ||
-            cfg.methods === null ||
-            Array.isArray(cfg.methods)
-        ) {
-            throw new Error(
-                `${label}.requireReputation.methods must be an object`,
-            );
-        }
-        for (const [name, requirement] of Object.entries(cfg.methods)) {
-            validateReputationRequirement(
-                requirement,
-                `${label}.requireReputation.methods.${name}`,
-            );
-        }
-    }
-    return cfg as DriverRequireReputationConfig;
-}
-
-/**
- * Resolve the reputation requirement for a method. Same precedence as the other
- * per-method resolvers: an entry in `methods` wins over `default`, and
- * `undefined` means the method asks for no floor.
- */
-export function resolveDriverMethodRequireReputation(
-    cfg: DriverRequireReputationConfig | undefined,
-    method: string,
-): ReputationRequirement | undefined {
-    if (!cfg) return undefined;
-    return cfg.methods?.[method] ?? cfg.default;
-}
-
-/**
- * Resolved metadata for a registered driver, from decorator metadata or
- * imperative instance properties. The gates live here rather than on a route
- * because every driver shares the `/drivers/call` dispatch route.
+ * Resolved metadata for a registered driver, read from its instance properties.
+ * The gates live here rather than on a route because every driver shares the
+ * `/drivers/call` dispatch route.
  */
 export interface DriverMeta {
     /** E.g. 'puter-chat-completion'. */
@@ -441,97 +263,33 @@ export interface DriverMeta {
 }
 
 /**
- * Extract driver metadata from a driver instance. Checks decorator-set
- * prototype metadata first, then falls back to instance properties. Returns
- * `null` if the driver doesn't declare an interface.
+ * Extract a driver's metadata, validating its policy blocks so a malformed one
+ * fails loud at registration. Returns `null` if the driver doesn't declare an
+ * interface and name.
  */
 export function resolveDriverMeta(
     driver: WithLifecycle & Record<string, unknown>,
 ): DriverMeta | null {
-    const proto = Object.getPrototypeOf(driver) as Record<string, unknown>;
-
-    const interfaceName =
-        (proto[DRIVER_INTERFACE_KEY] as string | undefined) ??
-        (driver.driverInterface as string | undefined);
-    const driverName =
-        (proto[DRIVER_NAME_KEY] as string | undefined) ??
-        (driver.driverName as string | undefined);
-    const isDefault =
-        (proto[DRIVER_DEFAULT_KEY] as boolean | undefined) ??
-        (driver.isDefault as boolean | undefined) ??
-        false;
-    const aliases =
-        (proto[DRIVER_ALIASES_KEY] as string[] | undefined) ??
-        (driver.driverAliases as string[] | undefined) ??
-        [];
-    // Decorator stashes a validated config on the prototype; imperative
-    // drivers declare a raw object on the instance, which we validate here
-    // so a malformed `rateLimit` field still fails loud at registration.
-    const protoRateLimit = proto[DRIVER_RATE_LIMIT_KEY] as
-        DriverRateLimitConfig | undefined;
-    let rateLimit: DriverRateLimitConfig | undefined;
-    if (protoRateLimit) {
-        rateLimit = protoRateLimit;
-    } else if (driver.rateLimit !== undefined) {
-        rateLimit = validateDriverRateLimit(
-            driver.rateLimit,
-            `driver '${driverName ?? '(unnamed)'}'`,
-        );
-    }
-
-    const protoConcurrent = proto[DRIVER_CONCURRENT_KEY] as
-        DriverConcurrentConfig | undefined;
-    let concurrent: DriverConcurrentConfig | undefined;
-    if (protoConcurrent) {
-        concurrent = protoConcurrent;
-    } else if (driver.concurrent !== undefined) {
-        concurrent = validateDriverConcurrent(
-            driver.concurrent,
-            `driver '${driverName ?? '(unnamed)'}'`,
-        );
-    }
-
-    const protoRequireSubscription = proto[DRIVER_REQUIRE_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY] as
-        DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig | undefined;
-    let requireSubscription: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig | undefined;
-    if (protoRequireSubscription) {
-        requireSubscription = protoRequireSubscription;
-    } else if (driver.requireSubscription !== undefined) {
-        requireSubscription = validateDriverRequireSubscription(
-            driver.requireSubscription,
-            `driver '${driverName ?? '(unnamed)'}'`,
-        );
-    }
-
-    const protoRequireReputation = proto[DRIVER_REQUIRE_REPUTATION_KEY] as
-        DriverRequireReputationConfig | undefined;
-    let requireReputation: DriverRequireReputationConfig | undefined;
-    if (protoRequireReputation) {
-        requireReputation = protoRequireReputation;
-    } else if (driver.requireReputation !== undefined) {
-        requireReputation = validateDriverRequireReputation(
-            driver.requireReputation,
-            `driver '${driverName ?? '(unnamed)'}'`,
-        );
-    }
-
-    const noUserSession =
-        (proto[DRIVER_NO_USER_SESSION_KEY] as boolean | undefined) ??
-        (driver.noUserSession as boolean | undefined) ??
-        false;
-
+    const interfaceName = driver.driverInterface as string | undefined;
+    const driverName = driver.driverName as string | undefined;
     if (!interfaceName || !driverName) return null;
 
+    const label = `driver '${driverName}'`;
+    const policy = <K extends DriverPolicyName>(name: K) =>
+        driver[name] === undefined
+            ? undefined
+            : validatePerMethod(driver[name], label, name);
+
     return {
         interfaceName,
         driverName,
-        isDefault,
-        aliases,
-        rateLimit,
-        concurrent,
-        noUserSession,
-        requireSubscription,
-        requireReputation,
+        isDefault: (driver.isDefault as boolean | undefined) ?? false,
+        aliases: (driver.driverAliases as string[] | undefined) ?? [],
+        rateLimit: policy('rateLimit'),
+        concurrent: policy('concurrent'),
+        noUserSession: (driver.noUserSession as boolean | undefined) ?? false,
+        requireSubscription: policy('requireSubscription'),
+        requireReputation: policy('requireReputation'),
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/types.ts b/src/backend/drivers/types.ts
index de0c10a01..4c281a4fe 100644
--- a/src/backend/drivers/types.ts
+++ b/src/backend/drivers/types.ts
@@ -47,41 +47,27 @@ export type IPuterDriver<T extends WithCostsReporting = WithCostsReporting> =
 
 /**
  * Base class for drivers. A driver implements a named interface (e.g.
- * `puter-chat-completion`); several drivers may implement the same one. Declare
- * it with `@Driver(interface, options)` or by setting the readonly fields below
- * imperatively.
+ * `puter-chat-completion`); several drivers may implement the same one, and
+ * declares itself through the readonly fields below.
  */
 export const PuterDriver = class PuterDriver implements WithCostsReporting {
-    /** The interface this driver implements. Set by `@Driver` or override. */
+    /** The interface this driver implements. */
     declare readonly driverInterface?: string;
-    /** Unique name within its interface. Set by `@Driver` or override. */
+    /** Unique name within its interface. */
     declare readonly driverName?: string;
     /** When true, this is the default driver for its interface. */
     declare readonly isDefault?: boolean;
-    /**
-     * Rate-limit policy applied to RPC calls into this driver. Set by
-     * `@Driver({ rateLimit: ... })` or declared imperatively. See
-     * `DriverRateLimitConfig` in `./meta` for the shape.
-     */
+    /** Rate-limit policy for RPC calls into this driver; see `./meta`. */
     declare readonly rateLimit?: DriverRateLimitConfig;
-    /**
-     * Concurrent in-flight policy applied to RPC calls into this driver. Set by
-     * `@Driver({ concurrent: ... })` or declared imperatively. See
-     * `DriverConcurrentConfig` in `./meta` for the shape.
-     */
+    /** In-flight cap for RPC calls into this driver; see `./meta`. */
     declare readonly concurrent?: DriverConcurrentConfig;
     /**
      * When true, `/drivers/call` rejects bare account-session ("root") tokens
      * for this driver — callers need an app/worker token or a dashboard-minted
-     * API token. Set by `@Driver({ noUserSession: true })` or declared
-     * imperatively. See `DriverMeta.noUserSession` in `./meta`.
+     * API token. See `DriverMeta.noUserSession` in `./meta`.
      */
     declare readonly noUserSession?: boolean;
-    /**
-     * Subscriber-only methods on this driver. Set by `@Driver({
-     * requireSubscription: ... })` or declared imperatively. See
-     * `DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig` in `./meta` for the shape.
-     */
+    /** Subscriber-only methods on this driver; see `./meta`. */
     declare readonly requireSubscription?: DriverRequireSubscriptionConfig;
 
     constructor(
diff --git a/src/backend/drivers/util/aiLimits.test.ts b/src/backend/drivers/util/aiLimits.test.ts
index 9452f4fe7..ec0c12cb6 100644
--- a/src/backend/drivers/util/aiLimits.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/drivers/util/aiLimits.test.ts
@@ -22,12 +22,7 @@ import {
     DEFAULT_FREE_SUBSCRIPTION,
     DEFAULT_TEMP_SUBSCRIPTION,
 } from '../../services/metering/consts.js';
-import {
-    resolveDriverMethodConcurrent,
-    resolveDriverMethodRateLimit,
-    validateDriverConcurrent,
-    validateDriverRateLimit,
-} from '../meta.js';
+import { resolvePerMethod, validatePerMethod } from '../meta.js';
 import { AI_CONCURRENT, AI_RATE_LIMIT } from './aiLimits.js';
 
 // The shared AI policy is consumed verbatim by 8 drivers — these tests
@@ -46,16 +41,16 @@ describe('AI_RATE_LIMIT', () => {
         });
     });
 
-    it('passes the same validator the @Driver decorator runs at boot', () => {
+    it('passes the validator drivers run at boot', () => {
         // If validation ever tightens, the AI policy must keep up.
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverRateLimit(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'AI_RATE_LIMIT'),
+            validatePerMethod(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'AI_RATE_LIMIT', 'rateLimit'),
         ).not.toThrow();
     });
 
     it('resolves the same spec for any method since only `default` is set', () => {
-        const a = resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'complete');
-        const b = resolveDriverMethodRateLimit(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'generate');
+        const a = resolvePerMethod(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'complete');
+        const b = resolvePerMethod(AI_RATE_LIMIT, 'generate');
         expect(a).toEqual(b);
         expect(a).toBe(AI_RATE_LIMIT.default);
     });
@@ -83,17 +78,17 @@ describe('AI_CONCURRENT', () => {
         });
     });
 
-    it('passes the same validator the @Driver decorator runs at boot', () => {
+    it('passes the validator drivers run at boot', () => {
         expect(() =>
-            validateDriverConcurrent(AI_CONCURRENT, 'AI_CONCURRENT'),
+            validatePerMethod(AI_CONCURRENT, 'AI_CONCURRENT', 'concurrent'),
         ).not.toThrow();
     });
 
     it('resolves the same spec for any method since only `default` is set', () => {
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(AI_CONCURRENT, 'complete')).toBe(
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(AI_CONCURRENT, 'complete')).toBe(
             AI_CONCURRENT.default,
         );
-        expect(resolveDriverMethodConcurrent(AI_CONCURRENT, 'generate')).toBe(
+        expect(resolvePerMethod(AI_CONCURRENT, 'generate')).toBe(
             AI_CONCURRENT.default,
         );
     });