@@ -161,42 +161,6 @@ def resolve_web_image(tag: str) -> str:
     return WEB_IMAGE
 
 
-# ─── Config profile selection (dev vs main) ───────────────────────────
-# When --tag dev or --tag main is used, override LPB_PI_REF and
-# LPB_CONFIG_REF to point to the appropriate branches.
-def _resolve_config_profile(tag: str) -> dict[str, str] | None:
-    """Return config overrides based on image tag.
-    
-    Returns None for custom tags (e.g. mybranch, sha).
-    
-    Branch mapping:
-      --tag dev    → LPB_PI_REF=lpb-dev, LPB_CONFIG_REF=dev
-      --tag main   → LPB_PI_REF=lpb,     LPB_CONFIG_REF=main
-      --tag latest → LPB_PI_REF=lpb,     LPB_CONFIG_REF=main (same as main)
-      --tag <x>    → no overrides (custom/PR images use defaults)
-    """
-    if tag == "dev":
-        return {"LPB_PI_REF": "lpb-dev", "LPB_CONFIG_REF": "dev"}
-    elif tag == "main" or tag == "latest":
-        return {"LPB_PI_REF": "lpb", "LPB_CONFIG_REF": "main"}
-    return None
-
-
-def _resolve_config_version(version: str) -> dict[str, str] | None:
-    """Return config overrides when --version is used to pin a specific tag.
-    
-    When --version 0.0.9-lpb is used, the container should clone
-    that specific version tag instead of a branch.
-    
-    Returns {"LPB_PI_REF": version, "LPB_CONFIG_REF": version} so the
-    container clones the pi and config repos at that exact commit.
-    """
-    # Only pin if it looks like a version tag (starts with 0.0. or v)
-    if version and (version.startswith("0.0.") or version.startswith("v")):
-        return {"LPB_PI_REF": version, "LPB_CONFIG_REF": version}
-    return None
-
-
 # ─── Load runtime configuration ──────────────────────────────────────────
 # lpb.conf.env defines runtime defaults (editor, browser, LLM, persistence)
 # Loaded after stack env — workspace .env overrides both.
@@ -666,7 +630,7 @@ def _build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     parser.add_argument("--ssh", nargs="?", const="", metavar="PUBKEY")
     parser.add_argument("--web", action="store_true")
     parser.add_argument("--tag", default=None,
-                        help="Image tag to use (dev|main|latest|<custom>)")
+                        help="Select image pipeline (dev|main|latest|<custom>)")
     parser.add_argument("--version", nargs="?", const="_show",
                         help="Pin to version tag (e.g. 0.0.9-lpb) or show stack version")
     parser.add_argument("--stop", "-s", action="store_true")
@@ -724,7 +688,6 @@ def parse_cli(args: list[str]) -> None:
         else:
             # --version 0.0.9-lpb → pin to specific version tag
             cfg.image_tag = known.version  # uses :0.0.9-lpb-cli
-            # LPB_PI_REF will be set by _resolve_config_version() below
     if known.stop:
         cfg.command = "stop"
     if known.remove:
@@ -1130,31 +1093,16 @@ def cmd_run():
     # lpb prints matches the token the VSCodium server actually enforces.
     ensure_token()
 
-    # Apply config overrides (version > profile > defaults)
-    # --version 0.0.9-lpb takes priority over --tag dev/main
-    if tag and re.match(r'^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+', tag):
-        # Version tag (e.g. 0.0.9-lpb) — pin to exact commit
-        version_cfg = _resolve_config_version(tag)
-        if version_cfg:
-            profile = version_cfg
-            info(f"  Config:   pinned to version {tag}")
-            info(f"           LPB_PI_REF={profile['LPB_PI_REF']}, LPB_CONFIG_REF={profile['LPB_CONFIG_REF']}")
-        else:
-            info(f"  Config:   custom (using defaults)")
-    elif profile := _resolve_config_profile(tag):
-        info(f"  Config:   {tag} profile (LPB_PI_REF={profile['LPB_PI_REF']}, LPB_CONFIG_REF={profile['LPB_CONFIG_REF']})")
-    else:
-        info(f"  Config:   custom (using defaults)")
-    
     env_vars = [
         f"LPB_ED_PORT={cfg.port}",
         f"LPB_EDITOR_HOST={cfg.host}",
         f"LPB_DEVCONTAINER_WORKSPACE_DIR={mount_path}",
         f"LPB_CONNECTION_TOKEN={cfg.token}",
         f"CONNECTION_TOKEN={cfg.token}",
-        # Config profile overrides (applied based on --tag)
-        f"LPB_PI_REF={profile['LPB_PI_REF']}" if profile else "",
-        f"LPB_CONFIG_REF={profile['LPB_CONFIG_REF']}" if profile else "",
+        # NOTE: LPB_PI_REF and LPB_CONFIG_REF are NOT passed as env vars.
+        # The image is built with these baked in (LPB_PI_REF is the version
+        # tag or branch ref). The image IS the configuration reference —
+        # lpb.py just selects which pre-built image to use.
         # Note: LPB_STATE_DIR is NOT passed to the container. It's a launcher-time
         # config (lpb.py reads it to resolve the host mount source). The container
         # has no need for it — start.sh uses its own defaults. Passing it here