fix: stabilize learning path, reliability and legacy Windows builds

Unify beginner syntax while preserving compatibility, repair ownership and parser guards, add verified distribution tooling and VC6 Windows 98 build inputs, and clarify documentation and release status. Preserve DOS build-input line endings and exclude generated binaries/caches.

docs/README.md

@@ -7,8 +7,17 @@
 3. [Ten lessons](../lessons/README.md) — small programs in order.
 4. [Examples](../examples/) — try a quiz, guessing game, or shopping list.
 
+## Status, evidence and safety
+
+- [Current status](CURRENT_STATUS.md) — the short, current scope and next priorities.
+- [Release status](RELEASE_STATUS.md) — dated artifact verification and publication status.
+- [Classroom pilot](CLASSROOM_READINESS.md) — learner testing, not accessibility certification.
+- [Reliability](RELIABILITY.md) and [runtime guards](RUNTIME_LIMITS.md) — tested boundaries, not sandbox guarantees.
+- [Portability](PORTABILITY.md) and [Windows 98 / VC6](WINDOWS98.md) — compilation versus target execution.
+
 ## Look something up
 
+- [Beginner syntax](SYNTAX.md) and [older compatibility forms](COMPATIBILITY.md)
 - [Commands](CLI.md)
 - [Errors and repairs](ERRORS.md)
 - [Simple functions](SIMPLE_FUNCTIONS.md)
@@ -17,16 +26,21 @@
 
 ## For contributors
 
-- [Build and test](../CONTRIBUTING.md)
-- [Learning-first rules](LEARNING_FIRST.md)
-- [Current roadmap](ROADMAP.md)
-- [Detailed implementation status](CURRENT_STATUS.md)
+- [Build and contribute](../CONTRIBUTING.md)
+- [Testing](TESTING.md) and [release checklist](FINAL_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md)
+- [Learning-first rules](LEARNING_FIRST.md) and [small active roadmap](ROADMAP.md)
 - [Language specification](SPEC.md)
 - [Versioning](VERSIONING.md)
 
 ## History and optional features
 
-Older RC notes, versioned validation reports, and platform-expansion plans
-remain in this directory for reference. They are not prerequisites for learning
-and are not the active roadmap. The [previous roadmap](history/ROADMAP_BEFORE_LEARNING_FIRST.md)
-records the earlier direction. Existing features have not been removed.
+Older RC notes, versioned reports and expansion plans are reference, not the
+active roadmap or prerequisites for learners. Existing features remain supported;
+they have not been removed to simplify the teaching path.
+
+- [Previous roadmap](history/ROADMAP_BEFORE_LEARNING_FIRST.md)
+- [Previous detailed status](history/CURRENT_STATUS_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md)
+- [Preserved hardening log](history/HARDENING_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md)
+
+If an older plan conflicts with the current status or learning-first rules,
+treat it as historical rather than as a promised feature.