diff --git a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/.vscode-test.mjs b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/.vscode-test.mjs
index faaf9f7e..26996fe1 100644
--- a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/.vscode-test.mjs
+++ b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/.vscode-test.mjs
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ import { defineConfig } from '@vscode/test-cli';
 
 import { ASSISTED_TIMEOUT_MS, BASE_CONFIG } from './.vscode-test.base.mjs';
 
+const parsed = Number(process.env.RANGELINK_MOCHA_TIMEOUT);
+const MOCHA_TIMEOUT = Number.isFinite(parsed) && parsed >= 0 ? parsed : ASSISTED_TIMEOUT_MS;
+
 export default defineConfig([
   {
     ...BASE_CONFIG,
-    mocha: { timeout: ASSISTED_TIMEOUT_MS, ...BASE_CONFIG.mocha },
+    mocha: { timeout: MOCHA_TIMEOUT, ...BASE_CONFIG.mocha },
   },
 ]);
diff --git a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/qa/qa-test-cases-v1.1.0.yaml b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/qa/qa-test-cases-v1.1.0.yaml
index a0bee74a..ff6cc533 100644
--- a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/qa/qa-test-cases-v1.1.0.yaml
+++ b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/qa/qa-test-cases-v1.1.0.yaml
@@ -388,8 +388,8 @@ test_cases:
       - clipboard
     feature: 'Clipboard Preservation'
     scenario: 'always mode: clipboard content before AI assistant paste is restored after'
-    expected_result: 'Dummy AI tier1 contains the exact link (relPath#L1-L3). Clipboard contains the sentinel value. assertClipboardRestored passes — preserve=always silently restored the clipboard after AI delivery.'
-    automated: assisted
+    expected_result: 'Dummy AI tier1 contains the exact padded link ` relPath#L1C1-L3C7 ` (character-precise, with smart-padding spaces). Clipboard contains the sentinel value. assertClipboardRestored passes — preserve=always silently restored the clipboard after AI delivery.'
+    automated: true
 
   - id: clipboard-preservation-005
     labels:
@@ -437,8 +437,7 @@ test_cases:
     feature: 'Clipboard Preservation'
     scenario: 'AI assistant auto-paste fails (focus command throws): RangeLink stays in clipboard for manual paste'
     expected_result: 'Clipboard contains the generated RangeLink (not CLIPBOARD_SENTINEL). isClipboardRestorationApplicable returns false because getUserInstruction(Failure) is defined. The "Paste manually" warning toast was shown.'
-    command_to_run: 'pnpm test:release:grep "clipboard-preservation-010"'
-    automated: assisted
+    automated: true
 
   - id: clipboard-preservation-011
     labels:
@@ -1372,7 +1371,7 @@ test_cases:
     feature: 'Core Send Commands — R-L'
     scenario: 'R-L sends RangeLink to bound AI assistant destination'
     expected_result: 'RangeLink appears in AI chat input. Success toast confirms send.'
-    automated: assisted
+    automated: true
 
   - id: core-send-commands-r-c-001
     labels:
diff --git a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/helpers/assistedTestHelper.ts b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/helpers/assistedTestHelper.ts
index 50a7ee38..3cbf9b3d 100644
--- a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/helpers/assistedTestHelper.ts
+++ b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/helpers/assistedTestHelper.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ const VERDICT_FAIL_COMMAND_PREFIX = 'rangelink._test.verdict.fail';
 // patterns would otherwise throw `command '...' already exists`.
 let verdictInvocationCounter = 0;
 
+// Tracks the currently-active verdict state so a new invocation can clean up
+// stale UI from a previous invocation that never settled (e.g., Mocha timed
+// out the test before the human clicked a button).
+let activeVerdictDisposables: vscode.Disposable[] | undefined;
+let activeVerdictReject: ((reason: unknown) => void) | undefined;
+
 /**
  * Pauses the test until the human clicks Pass or Fail in the status bar.
  *
@@ -113,6 +119,19 @@ export const waitForHumanVerdict = async (
   nodeConsole.log('Click the PASS or FAIL button in the status bar (bottom-left) when done.');
   nodeConsole.log(SECTION_LINE);
 
+  // Dispose any stale UI from a previous invocation that never settled
+  // (e.g., Mocha timed out the test before the human clicked a button).
+  if (activeVerdictDisposables !== undefined) {
+    for (const d of activeVerdictDisposables) {
+      d.dispose();
+    }
+    activeVerdictDisposables = undefined;
+  }
+  if (activeVerdictReject !== undefined) {
+    activeVerdictReject(new Error('Superseded by a new waitForHumanVerdict invocation'));
+    activeVerdictReject = undefined;
+  }
+
   const invocationId = ++verdictInvocationCounter;
   const passCommand = `${VERDICT_PASS_COMMAND_PREFIX}.${invocationId}`;
   const failCommand = `${VERDICT_FAIL_COMMAND_PREFIX}.${invocationId}`;
@@ -126,13 +145,16 @@ export const waitForHumanVerdict = async (
     (progress) => {
       progress.report({ message: 'Click PASS or FAIL in the bottom-left status bar' });
 
-      return new Promise<HumanVerdict>((resolve) => {
+      return new Promise<HumanVerdict>((resolve, reject) => {
+        activeVerdictReject = reject;
         const disposables: vscode.Disposable[] = [];
         let settled = false;
 
         const settleWith = (verdict: HumanVerdict): void => {
           if (settled) return;
           settled = true;
+          activeVerdictDisposables = undefined;
+          activeVerdictReject = undefined;
           for (const d of disposables) {
             d.dispose();
           }
@@ -159,6 +181,8 @@ export const waitForHumanVerdict = async (
         failItem.color = new vscode.ThemeColor('testing.iconFailed');
         failItem.show();
         disposables.push(failItem);
+
+        activeVerdictDisposables = disposables;
       });
     },
   );
diff --git a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/clipboardPreservation.test.ts b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/clipboardPreservation.test.ts
index d6ee10a0..d3baeb31 100644
--- a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/clipboardPreservation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/clipboardPreservation.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import assert from 'node:assert';
 import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 
 import {
+  CMD_BIND_TO_CUSTOM_AI_BY_ID,
   CMD_BIND_TO_TEXT_EDITOR_HERE,
   CMD_COPY_LINK_RELATIVE,
   CMD_PASTE_CURRENT_FILE_PATH_RELATIVE,
@@ -20,8 +21,6 @@ import {
   openAndDismiss,
   standardSuite,
   TERMINAL_READY_MS,
-  waitForHuman,
-  CLIPBOARD_SENTINEL,
   writeClipboardSentinel,
 } from '../helpers';
 import type { CapturingTerminal } from '../helpers/capturingPtyHelpers';
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ standardSuite('Clipboard Preservation — Assisted', (ss) => {
     ss.log('✓ Clipboard restored to sentinel and phrase landed in destination file after R-V');
   });
 
-  test('[assisted] clipboard-preservation-004: always mode — AI assistant paste restores clipboard', async () => {
+  test('clipboard-preservation-004: always mode — AI assistant paste restores clipboard', async () => {
     const { uri: fileUri } = ss.createContentFile('cbp-004', 10, (i) => `line ${i + 1} content`);
 
     const relPath = vscode.workspace.asRelativePath(fileUri);
@@ -218,30 +217,26 @@ standardSuite('Clipboard Preservation — Assisted', (ss) => {
     editor.selection = new vscode.Selection(0, 0, 2, 6);
     await ss.settle();
 
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_BIND_TO_CUSTOM_AI_BY_ID, {
+      extensionId: 'rangelink.dummy-ai-extension',
+    });
+    await ss.settle();
+
     const logCapture = getLogCapture();
     logCapture.mark('before-004');
-    await waitForHuman(
-      'clipboard-preservation-004',
-      `Press Cmd+R Cmd+D → bind "Dummy AI (Tier 1)", click back into the editor, press Cmd+R Cmd+L`,
-      [
-        '1. Press Cmd+R Cmd+D → select "Dummy AI (Tier 1)" from the picker',
-        '2. Click back into the editor (lines 1-3 are pre-selected)',
-        '3. Press Cmd+R Cmd+L — the link should appear in Dummy AI Tier 1 textarea',
-        '4. Press Cancel to continue (assertions happen automatically)',
-      ],
-    );
 
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_COPY_LINK_RELATIVE);
     await ss.settle();
+
     assertClipboardPreservationRan(logCapture, 'before-004', 'R-L');
     const dummyText = (await vscode.commands.executeCommand('dummyAi.getText')) as {
       tier1: string;
       tier2: string;
     };
-    // trim() strips smart-padding spaces (pasteLink='both' adds leading/trailing space)
     assert.strictEqual(
-      dummyText.tier1.trim(),
-      expectedLink,
-      `Expected Dummy AI tier1="${expectedLink}", got: ${JSON.stringify(dummyText.tier1)}`,
+      dummyText.tier1,
+      ` ${expectedLink} `,
+      `Expected Dummy AI tier1=" ${expectedLink} ", got: ${JSON.stringify(dummyText.tier1)}`,
     );
     await assertClipboardRestored('clipboard-preservation-004: always + AI paste');
     ss.log('✓ Clipboard restored to sentinel and link landed in Dummy AI after R-L');
@@ -338,29 +333,23 @@ standardSuite('Clipboard Preservation — Assisted', (ss) => {
     ss.log('✓ Clipboard unchanged after picker dismissed (no operation performed)');
   });
 
-  test('[assisted] clipboard-preservation-010: focus command failure preserves link in clipboard for manual paste', async () => {
+  test('clipboard-preservation-010: focus command failure preserves link in clipboard for manual paste', async () => {
     const { uri: fileUri } = ss.createContentFile('cbp-010', 5, (i) => `line ${i + 1}`);
 
-    const relPath = vscode.workspace.asRelativePath(fileUri);
-    await ss.openEditor(fileUri);
+    const editor = await ss.openEditor(fileUri);
+    editor.selection = new vscode.Selection(0, 0, 3, 0);
     await ss.settle();
     await writeClipboardSentinel();
 
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_BIND_TO_CUSTOM_AI_BY_ID, {
+      extensionId: 'rangelink.dummy-ai-extension-focus-fail',
+    });
+    await ss.settle();
+
     const logCapture = getLogCapture();
     logCapture.mark('before-010');
 
-    await waitForHuman(
-      'clipboard-preservation-010',
-      `clipboard.preserve="always". Bind "Dummy AI (Focus-Fail)" via Cmd+R Cmd+D, then select lines 1-3 in the test file and press Cmd+R Cmd+L. The focus command throws — you should see a warning. Sentinel: "${CLIPBOARD_SENTINEL}".`,
-      [
-        '1. Press Cmd+R Cmd+D → select "Dummy AI (Focus-Fail)" from the picker',
-        `2. Click back into the test file (${relPath}) and select lines 1-3`,
-        '3. Press Cmd+R Cmd+L — the focus command will throw an intentional error',
-        '4. Observe the warning message (manual paste instruction)',
-        '5. Press Cancel to continue (test verifies the link stayed in the clipboard)',
-      ],
-    );
-
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_COPY_LINK_RELATIVE);
     await ss.settle();
 
     const lines010 = logCapture.getLinesSince('before-010');
@@ -384,10 +373,11 @@ standardSuite('Clipboard Preservation — Assisted', (ss) => {
     );
     const generatedLink = extractGeneratedLink(lines010);
     assert.ok(generatedLink, 'Expected "Generated link:" log line');
+    const PADDED_GENERATED_LINK = ` ${generatedLink} `;
     assert.strictEqual(
       clipboardContent,
-      generatedLink,
-      `Expected clipboard to equal generated link "${generatedLink}", got: ${clipboardContent}`,
+      PADDED_GENERATED_LINK,
+      `Expected clipboard to equal "${PADDED_GENERATED_LINK}", got: ${JSON.stringify(clipboardContent)}`,
     );
     ss.log(
       '✓ Clipboard not restored after focus failure — link stays in clipboard for manual paste',
diff --git a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/coreSendCommands.test.ts b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/coreSendCommands.test.ts
index bbb93b21..ffbba074 100644
--- a/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/coreSendCommands.test.ts
+++ b/packages/rangelink-vscode-extension/src/__integration-tests__/suite/coreSendCommands.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 
 import {
+  CMD_BIND_TO_CUSTOM_AI_BY_ID,
   CMD_BIND_TO_TEXT_EDITOR_HERE,
   CMD_COPY_LINK_ONLY_RELATIVE,
   CMD_COPY_LINK_RELATIVE,
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ standardSuite('Core Send Commands', (ss) => {
     ss.log('✓ R-L sent exact RangeLink to bound text editor destination');
   });
 
-  test('[assisted] core-send-commands-r-l-003: R-L sends RangeLink to bound AI assistant destination', async () => {
+  test('core-send-commands-r-l-003: R-L sends RangeLink to bound AI assistant destination', async () => {
     const CSC_R_L_003_LINE_COUNT = 10;
     const { uri: fileUri } = ss.createContentFile(
       'csc-r-l-003',
@@ -96,31 +97,30 @@ standardSuite('Core Send Commands', (ss) => {
     const relPath = vscode.workspace.asRelativePath(fileUri);
     const expectedLink = `${relPath}#L1-L3`;
 
-    await ss.openEditor(fileUri);
+    const doc = await vscode.workspace.openTextDocument(fileUri);
+    const editor = await vscode.window.showTextDocument(doc);
+    editor.selection = new vscode.Selection(0, 0, 3, 0);
+    await ss.settle();
+
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_BIND_TO_CUSTOM_AI_BY_ID, {
+      extensionId: 'rangelink.dummy-ai-extension',
+    });
     await ss.settle();
 
     const logCapture = getLogCapture();
     logCapture.mark('before-r-l-003');
 
-    await waitForHuman(
-      'core-send-commands-r-l-003',
-      `Bind Dummy AI Tier 1 via Cmd+R Cmd+D, select lines 1-3 in ${relPath}, press Cmd+R Cmd+L.`,
-      [
-        '1. Press Cmd+R Cmd+D → select "Dummy AI (Tier 1)"',
-        `2. Click into ${relPath}, select lines 1-3`,
-        '3. Press Cmd+R Cmd+L',
-      ],
-    );
-
+    await vscode.commands.executeCommand(CMD_COPY_LINK_RELATIVE);
     await ss.settle();
+
     const dummyText = (await vscode.commands.executeCommand('dummyAi.getText')) as {
       tier1: string;
       tier2: string;
     };
     assert.strictEqual(
-      dummyText.tier1.trim(),
-      expectedLink,
-      `Expected Dummy AI tier1="${expectedLink}", got: ${JSON.stringify(dummyText.tier1)}`,
+      dummyText.tier1,
+      ` ${expectedLink} `,
+      `Expected Dummy AI tier1=" ${expectedLink} ", got: ${JSON.stringify(dummyText.tier1)}`,
     );
 
     assert.ok(