The substrate executes; it does not define purpose

The baker defines personality; the substrate implements its physics. Today the verifiable reference is the software runtime. FPGA or ASIC becomes compatible only after conformance testing.

Portability requires identical .d8p interpretation, arithmetic, clamping, phase order, initial state, complete tape, reset schedule, event trace, and readout.

Different speed is acceptable. Different behaviour means a different runtime, not “the same personality on another body.”

The score analogy needs all roles:

• .d8p is the reaction score;
• the baker is composer and instrument engineer;
• the VSB tape is the performed sequence;
• runtime is the orchestra;
• trace is the recording.

“The substrate is secondary” means intent is independent of one CPU. It does not mean that FPGA, ASIC, or biology are already proven equivalent implementations.