diff --git a/docs/plans-executions/2026-09-16-0841-provider-blueprint.md b/docs/plans-executions/2026-09-16-0841-provider-blueprint.md
index b5c3589..b092194 100644
--- a/docs/plans-executions/2026-09-16-0841-provider-blueprint.md
+++ b/docs/plans-executions/2026-09-16-0841-provider-blueprint.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Plan: [docs/plans/2026-09-16-0841-provider-blueprint.md](../plans/2026-09-16-084
 - [x] Step 0 — Save the plan; wait for the merge
 - [x] Step 1 — Collect evidence (read-only, in parallel)
 - [x] Step 2 — Write `docs/providers.md`
-- [ ] Step 3 — Verify, then open the MR
+- [x] Step 3 — Verify, then open the MR
 
 ## Step 0 — Save the plan; wait for the merge
 
@@ -61,10 +61,40 @@ Judgment calls:
   planned. The contract rules in §2 cite the reconciler and GC lines each rule
   protects.
 - The gap list includes documentation drift (kvm-provider.md's ARP order and
-  "from startup" dial, gcp-vm-validation.md's label value and its claim that
-  async errors reach status), as well as code gaps. Both would mislead the next
+  log keys, gcp-vm-validation.md's label value and its claim that async errors
+  reach status), as well as code gaps. Both would mislead the next
   provider author in the same way.
 - "Proposed features" stays a flat list with no design, as the user decided.
 
 Worth noting: the line numbers in the doc are a snapshot. The doc says so and
 asks readers to look for the named function when a line has moved.
+
+## Step 3 — Verify, then open the MR
+
+An Explore agent re-checked the doc against the code: about 150 claims,
+including every matrix cell. It found four mismatches, and all four were fixed:
+- **Startup dial:** I had listed kvm-provider.md's "connection kept open from
+  startup" as doc drift. It isn't: the pool dials lazily, but the provider
+  health monitor runs a check as soon as the leader starts
+  (`monitor.go:147`, default interval 1m), and that check opens the connection.
+  The bullet was removed and the kvm notes now say this.
+- **Checker wording:** §5 said the monitor type-asserts `Checker`. It is
+  `cmd/main.go:216`; the monitor only sees nil or not.
+- **Reasons, not conditions:** §3 called `QuotaExceeded` and `PermanentError`
+  conditions. They are reasons on `Provisioned`.
+- **Latch lines:** the line range is `:133-139`, not `:130-135`.
+
+It also noted that none of the providers assert `var _ provider.Provider`, and
+that the kubernetes provider's RBAC markers live in the controller package. The
+§7 checklist now says both.
+
+Link check (every relative `](…)` target and anchor in the new and edited docs
+resolves), then the sanity build:
+
+```bash
+go build ./... && go test -short ./...
+# all packages ok
+```
+
+Worth noting: no CHANGELOG entry yet. Per CLAUDE.md it goes in after the user
+confirms the doc.
diff --git a/docs/providers.md b/docs/providers.md
index 49f7c68..3821318 100644
--- a/docs/providers.md
+++ b/docs/providers.md
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ results with the class (`metrics.go:61-74`, `tracing.go:67-80`).
 | Class | Use it for | During normal reconciling | While deleting |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | `ErrNotFound` | the instance doesn't exist | Get: recreate or advance (§2); other ops: returned as the error, so exponential backoff | Get: release the finalizer |
-| `ErrQuotaExceeded` | quota or rate limit | condition `QuotaExceeded`, requeue after `QuotaRetry` (5m), not counted as an error (`:337-340`) | requeue after `QuotaRetry` |
+| `ErrQuotaExceeded` | quota or rate limit | `Provisioned=False` with reason `QuotaExceeded`, requeue after `QuotaRetry` (5m), not counted as an error (`:337-340`) | requeue after `QuotaRetry` |
 | `ErrTransient` | network, 5xx, timeouts, cancellation, anything unknown | error returned, so workqueue exponential backoff | same |
-| `ErrPermanent` | bad config, bad argument, auth or permission denied, malformed ID | **latched**: condition `PermanentError`, no more provider calls until `metadata.generation` changes (`:130-135`, `:341-343`) | error returned and retried forever; Get Permanent also triggers `Delete` (`:292-302`) |
+| `ErrPermanent` | bad config, bad argument, auth or permission denied, malformed ID | **latched**: `Provisioned=False` with reason `PermanentError`, no more provider calls until `metadata.generation` changes (`:133-139`, `:341-343`) | error returned and retried forever; Get Permanent also triggers `Delete` (`:292-302`) |
 
 Pitfalls:
 
@@ -240,10 +240,10 @@ Pitfalls:
 
 ## 5. Optional interfaces: `Checker`
 
-`provider.Checker` is `Check(ctx) []TargetStatus` (`check.go:37-46`). The
-monitor type-asserts it on the **unwrapped** provider, before `cmd/main.go` adds
-the decorators (`cmd/main.go:211-222`). A provider without it shows up as
-unsupported, not as failed.
+`provider.Checker` is `Check(ctx) []TargetStatus` (`check.go:37-46`).
+`cmd/main.go` type-asserts it on the **unwrapped** provider (`cmd/main.go:216`)
+before adding the decorators (`:219-222`). The monitor treats a nil Checker as
+unsupported, not as failed (`monitor.go:212`).
 
 - **MUST never fail as a whole.** Every failure is a `TargetStatus` with
   `Ready=false`.
@@ -358,16 +358,18 @@ the per-provider notes below the table.
   failures. Nothing is Quota.
 - **Check:** `check.go:41-139`. Runs concurrently per host through
   `hostPool.probe`. Reasons are tagged by the dial stage.
-- **Connections:** `conn.go`. Dials lazily, one connection per host with a 15s
-  keepalive. On cancel, `call` closes the shared connection; `probe` abandons
+- **Connections:** `conn.go`. One connection per host with a 15s keepalive.
+  The pool dials on first use; with provider checks on (the default), the
+  leader's first health check opens it at startup. On cancel, `call` closes the shared connection; `probe` abandons
   the RPC and leaves the connection open.
 - **Full guide:** [kvm-provider.md](kvm-provider.md).
 
 ## 7. Adding a provider: checklist
 
 1. **Package:** create `internal/provider/<type>/` with the provider type and a
-   compile-time `var _ provider.Provider = (*Provider)(nil)` (and
-   `provider.Checker`).
+   compile-time interface assertions: `var _ provider.Checker = (*Provider)(nil)`
+   as in `kubernetes/check.go:15`, and the same for `provider.Provider`, which
+   the existing providers don't assert yet.
    - Put the backend SDK behind a small interface (gcp `instancesAPI`, kvm
      `libvirtAPI`) so a fake can stand in for it in tests.
    - Build the logger with
@@ -413,8 +415,11 @@ the per-provider notes below the table.
    again, poll until Running, list, delete, delete again, and confirm it is gone
    and cleaned up. See `kvm/kvm_integration_test.go` and
    [testing.md](testing.md).
-10. **RBAC:** if the provider talks to the cluster, add package-level
-    `+kubebuilder:rbac` markers, then run `make manifests` and check
+10. **RBAC:** if the provider talks to the cluster, add `+kubebuilder:rbac`
+    markers in their own comment block, not inside a doc comment. The kubernetes
+    provider's Pod markers live next to the reconciler's
+    (`internal/controller/proxy_controller.go:86-88`); `controller-gen` scans
+    `./...`, so either place works. Then run `make manifests` and check
     `git diff config/rbac/role.yaml`.
 11. **Docs:**
     - A `docs/<type>-provider.md` covering prerequisites, config reference,
@@ -497,7 +502,6 @@ These are listed only. Nothing below is designed or implemented.
   its backing image or size.
 - **Doc drift in kvm-provider.md:**
   - It says ARP is the fallback; the code tries ARP first.
-  - It describes a connection kept open "from startup"; the dial is lazy.
   - It says `host` and `name` are on every log line; the check and list paths
     lack them.