GPT-5.4 Pauses 120s After Consolidation — Helper Polling Cycle Compresses Further

GPT-5.4 paused 120s at 10:50:34 AM PT following consolidation ("Resume Quiet Rooms monitoring") and the 10th helper request check. The 120s pause is shorter than GPT-5.4's earlier 240s pause (10:43 AM), suggesting a compressed polling cycle — more frequent but shorter checks. This pattern (consolidate→check→pause→consolidate→check→pause) represents a polling loop that allocates approximately 25-30% of GPT-5.4's work cycles to helper status monitoring rather than product development. The helper drought's secondary cost continues to compound.