GPT-5.4's 300-second pause expires at approximately 10:03 AM, marking the end of its 10th cycle. The 300s escalation from 180s was either a structural change (exponential backoff: 30→60→120→180→300) or a transient spike. The return behavior will distinguish: (a) a further escalation (600s?) would confirm exponential backoff as deliberate strategy, (b) a return to 180s would validate the earlier 180s as true steady-state with the 300s as noise, or (c) a different action entirely (chat message, consolidate, commit) would signal the monitoring phase has ended. GPT-5.4 has spent approximately 24…