diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index cddbb45..6d6b254 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -105,13 +105,29 @@ $effect(() => {
 let items = $state(famStore.initialized ? famStore.items : (data.items || []));
 ```
 
-**Form action callbacks must call `famStore.applyRecord()`:**
-```ts
-// In use:enhance callback:
-famStore.applyRecord('collection_name', record, 'create' | 'update' | 'delete');
+## Update Patterns
+
+Two patterns based on who's acting:
+
+| Pattern | Who | Frequency | Sensitivity | Optimistic? | Auth |
+|---------|-----|-----------|-------------|-------------|------|
+| Direct `fetch` + `memberApi` | Member | High (chore toggles) | None | Yes (instant UI, reconcile on response) | `x-device-token` header |
+| Form action | Admin | Low (CRUD) | High (settings, members) | No — form is server-side, wait for round trip | httpOnly `session` cookie |
+
+**Member direct fetch** — optimistic UI via local state mutation, reconciled on response:
+```svelte
+let completions = $state(data.completions)
+async function toggle(chore) {
+    // optimistic update
+    completions = [...completions, { id: 'optimistic-...', ... }]
+    try {
+        await memberApi.toggleCompletion(token, famId, chore.id, date)
+        // reconcile — remove optimistic, keep server truth
+    } catch { /* revert */ }
+}
 ```
 
-The `famStore` has reactive `$state` properties and an `applyRecord()` method designed for instant UI feedback from form actions. Calling `applyRecord()` mutates the store directly — the UI updates immediately without waiting for PB SSE. The SSE subscription is a backup for multi-user sync only. Do NOT add `$effect` watchers to bridge the gap between form actions and reactive state.
+**Admin form actions** — no optimistic `applyRecord` needed in `use:enhance` callbacks. The form action is a server round trip, and PB SSE pushes the change back through `famStore.handleRealtime()` within milliseconds. The famStore + SSE subscription is the single source of truth for cross-user sync. Do NOT add `$effect` watchers to bridge the gap between form actions and reactive state.
 
 ## UI Component Conventions
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.svelte
index b83869f..ed0937b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.svelte
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ import type { AssignedChore, Completion, ChoreTemplate, BonusConfig, Reward } fr
 							{#each todays as c}
 								<li>
 									✅ {choreNameFor(c.assignedChoreId)}
-									<form method="POST" action="?/revoke" use:enhance={() => { return async (args) => handleResult(args, (d) => { if (d.revoked) famStore.applyRecord('completions', { id: d.id }, 'delete'); }); }} class="revoke-form">
+									<form method="POST" action="?/revoke" use:enhance={() => { return async (args) => handleResult(args, famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates ? (d) => { if (d.revoked) famStore.applyRecord('completions', { id: d.id }, 'delete'); } : undefined); }} class="revoke-form">
 										<input type="hidden" name="id" value={c.id} />
 										<button type="submit" class="revoke-btn" title="Revoke">↩</button>
 									</form>
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ import type { AssignedChore, Completion, ChoreTemplate, BonusConfig, Reward } fr
 							<span class="trigger-value">{val}</span>
 						</div>
 						{#if targeted}
-							<form method="POST" action="?/trigger" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, (d: any) => { if (d.records) { d.records.forEach((r: any) => famStore.applyRecord('rewards', r, 'create')); } }); }}>
+							<form method="POST" action="?/trigger" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates ? (d: any) => { if (d.records) d.records.forEach((r: any) => famStore.applyRecord('rewards', r, 'create')); } : undefined); }}>
 								<input type="hidden" name="configId" value={bc.id} />
 								<input type="hidden" name="memberId" value={targeted.id} />
 								<div class="trigger-row">
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ import type { AssignedChore, Completion, ChoreTemplate, BonusConfig, Reward } fr
 								</div>
 							</form>
 						{:else}
-							<form method="POST" action="?/trigger" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, (d: any) => { if (d.records) { d.records.forEach((r: any) => famStore.applyRecord('rewards', r, 'create')); } }); }}>
+							<form method="POST" action="?/trigger" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates ? (d: any) => { if (d.records) d.records.forEach((r: any) => famStore.applyRecord('rewards', r, 'create')); } : undefined); }}>
 								<input type="hidden" name="configId" value={bc.id} />
 								<div class="trigger-row">
 									<select name="memberId" class="trigger-select">
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ import type { AssignedChore, Completion, ChoreTemplate, BonusConfig, Reward } fr
 						<div class="member-claims">
 							<h4><span class="dot" style="background:{m.color}"></span> {m.name}</h4>
 							{#each mc as r}
-								<form method="POST" action="?/claim" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, (d: any) => { if (d.record) { famStore.applyRecord('rewards', d.record, 'update'); } }); }}>
+								<form method="POST" action="?/claim" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => handleResult(args, famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates ? (d: any) => { if (d.record) famStore.applyRecord('rewards', d.record, 'update'); } : undefined); }}>
 									<input type="hidden" name="id" value={r.id} />
 									<input type="hidden" name="message" value={selectedMessage[m.id] || ''} />
 									<div class="payment-row">
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/bonuses/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/bonuses/+page.svelte
index 1fd9cec..8c8e994 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/bonuses/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/bonuses/+page.svelte
@@ -176,7 +176,9 @@ import type {
 				const rec = result.data?.record;
 				if (rec) {
 					configs = [rec as BonusConfig, ...configs];
-					famStore.applyRecord('bonus_configs', rec, 'create');
+					if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+						famStore.applyRecord('bonus_configs', rec, 'create');
+					}
 				}
 				showCreateModal = false;
 			}
@@ -189,7 +191,9 @@ import type {
 				const updated = { ...editingConfig, ...editVals, rewardValue: editVals.rewardValue };
 				const idx = configs.findIndex((c) => c.id === editingConfig!.id);
 				if (idx !== -1) configs[idx] = updated as BonusConfig;
-				famStore.applyRecord('bonus_configs', updated, 'update');
+				if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+					famStore.applyRecord('bonus_configs', updated, 'update');
+				}
 				showEditModal = false;
 				editingConfig = null;
 			}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/chores/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/chores/+page.svelte
index f1af52c..e27b354 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/chores/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/chores/+page.svelte
@@ -81,7 +81,9 @@
 			const body = await res.json()
 			if (body.record) {
 				assigned = [body.record as AssignedChore, ...assigned]
-				famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', body.record, 'create')
+				if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+					famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', body.record, 'create')
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -121,7 +123,9 @@
 				const rec = result.data?.record
 				if (rec) {
 					templates = [rec as ChoreTemplate, ...templates]
-					famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', rec, 'create')
+					if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+						famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', rec, 'create')
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -139,7 +143,9 @@
 						value: editValue,
 						customName: editCustomName || undefined,
 					} as AssignedChore
-					famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', assigned[idx], 'update')
+					if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+						famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', assigned[idx], 'update')
+					}
 				}				
 			}
 			closeEdit()
@@ -165,7 +171,9 @@
 						? { ...a, frequency: editTplFreq, type: editTplType, value: editTplValue }
 						: a
 				) as AssignedChore[]
-				famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', templates[idx], 'update')
+				if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) {
+					famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', templates[idx], 'update')
+				}
 				closeEditTemplate()
 			}
 		}
@@ -203,7 +211,7 @@
 				</div>
 				<div class="card-actions">
 					<button onclick={() => openEditTemplate(t)} class="edit-btn" title="Edit template">✎</button>
-					<form method="POST" action="?/deleteTemplate" use:enhance={() => { return async ({ result, formData }) => { if (result.type === 'success') { const id = formData.get('id'); templates = templates.filter((t) => t.id !== id) as ChoreTemplate[]; const rec = result.data.record; if (rec) famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', { ...rec, id }, 'delete'); } }; }}>
+					<form method="POST" action="?/deleteTemplate" use:enhance={() => { return async ({ result, formData }) => { if (result.type === 'success') { const id = formData.get('id'); templates = templates.filter((t) => t.id !== id) as ChoreTemplate[]; if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) { const rec = result.data.record; if (rec) famStore.applyRecord('chore_templates', { ...rec, id }, 'delete'); } } }; }}>
 						<input type="hidden" name="id" value={t.id} />
 						<button type="submit" class="del-btn" title="Delete template">×</button>
 					</form>
@@ -235,7 +243,7 @@
 						<span class="badge type">{a.type}</span>
 					</div>
 					<div class="card-value">{a.type === 'money' ? `£${Number(a.value).toFixed(2)}` : a.value}</div>
-					<form method="POST" action="?/unassignChore" onclick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()} use:enhance={() => { return async ({ result }) => { if (result.type === 'success') { const id = result.data.record?.id; if (id) { assigned = assigned.filter((x) => x.id !== id) as AssignedChore[]; famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', { id }, 'delete'); } } }; }}>
+					<form method="POST" action="?/unassignChore" onclick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()} use:enhance={() => { return async ({ result }) => { if (result.type === 'success') { const id = result.data.record?.id; if (id) { assigned = assigned.filter((x) => x.id !== id) as AssignedChore[]; if (famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) { famStore.applyRecord('assigned_chores', { id }, 'delete'); } } } }; }}>
 						<input type="hidden" name="id" value={a.id} />
 						<button type="submit" class="del-btn" title="Remove assignment">×</button>
 					</form>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/rewards/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/rewards/+page.svelte
index 147373d..32697e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/rewards/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/rewards/+page.svelte
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
 							</td>
 							<td>
 								{#if outstanding}
-									<form method="POST" action="?/claim" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => { const d = args.result.data || {}; if (d.error) showToast(d.error); else if (args.result.type === 'success') { if (d.record) famStore.applyRecord('rewards', d.record, 'update'); fire(); } }; }}>
+									<form method="POST" action="?/claim" use:enhance={() => { return async (args: any) => { const d = args.result.data || {}; if (d.error) showToast(d.error); else if (args.result.type === 'success') { if (d.record && famStore.fam?.featureFlags?.optimisticUpdates) famStore.applyRecord('rewards', d.record, 'update'); fire(); } }; }}>
 										<input name="id" type="hidden" value={r.id} />
 										<Button type="submit" size="sm">Claim</Button>
 									</form>