diff --git a/alembic/versions/0033_suggestion_threshold_default_070.py b/alembic/versions/0033_suggestion_threshold_default_070.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..652cf44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/0033_suggestion_threshold_default_070.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""suggestion_threshold default 0.50 → 0.70
+
+Revision ID: 0033
+Revises: 0032
+Create Date: 2026-06-02
+
+Operator-flagged 2026-06-02 — the 0.50 default (set on 2026-06-01) is
+too noisy in practice; raise to 0.70 for both suggestion categories.
+
+Only conditionally updates singletons whose current value is still the
+2026-06-01 default (0.50). Operators who deliberately tuned their row
+to some other value (0.55, 0.65, 0.80, etc. via the Settings UI) keep
+their pick — the migration only catches the unchanged-default case.
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+
+revision: str = "0033"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "0032"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE ml_settings "
+        "SET suggestion_threshold_character = 0.70 "
+        "WHERE id = 1 AND suggestion_threshold_character = 0.50"
+    )
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE ml_settings "
+        "SET suggestion_threshold_general = 0.70 "
+        "WHERE id = 1 AND suggestion_threshold_general = 0.50"
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE ml_settings "
+        "SET suggestion_threshold_character = 0.50 "
+        "WHERE id = 1 AND suggestion_threshold_character = 0.70"
+    )
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE ml_settings "
+        "SET suggestion_threshold_general = 0.50 "
+        "WHERE id = 1 AND suggestion_threshold_general = 0.70"
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
index de4e476..5c3e858 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ class MLSettings(Base):
 
     id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, primary_key=True)
     suggestion_threshold_character: Mapped[float] = mapped_column(
-        Float, nullable=False, default=0.50
+        Float, nullable=False, default=0.70
     )
-    # Default lowered 0.95 → 0.50 on 2026-06-01 — operator-flagged that
-    # 0.95 hid most general suggestions. Operator-tunable via Settings →
-    # ML if too noisy.
+    # Default raised 0.50 → 0.70 on 2026-06-02 — operator-flagged 0.50
+    # surfaced too many low-confidence picks; 0.70 keeps the rail
+    # signal-rich while still surfacing more than the original 0.95
+    # which hid almost everything. Operator-tunable via Settings → ML.
     suggestion_threshold_general: Mapped[float] = mapped_column(
-        Float, nullable=False, default=0.50
+        Float, nullable=False, default=0.70
     )
     centroid_similarity_threshold: Mapped[float] = mapped_column(
         Float, nullable=False, default=0.55
diff --git a/backend/app/services/ml/centroids.py b/backend/app/services/ml/centroids.py
index 6a21d77..e18907f 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/ml/centroids.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/ml/centroids.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ from ...models import (
     TagReferenceEmbedding,
 )
 from ...models.tag import image_tag
-from .embedder import MODEL_VERSION as SIGLIP_VERSION
 
 ELIGIBLE_KINDS = {
     TagKind.character,
@@ -46,6 +45,21 @@ class CentroidService:
             )
         ).scalar_one()
 
+    async def _model_version(self) -> str:
+        """Audit 2026-06-02: SigLIP model-version stamp comes from the
+        DB row, not the env constant. tag_and_embed (tasks/ml.py:110)
+        already reads from MLSettings.embedder_model_version, so by
+        sourcing centroid stamps + drift checks from the same row, we
+        eliminate the silent-drift case the audit flagged. env
+        SIGLIP_MODEL_VERSION still drives which model embedder.py
+        loads at runtime; the version stamp is purely the operator-
+        controlled identifier."""
+        return (
+            await self.session.execute(
+                select(MLSettings.embedder_model_version).where(MLSettings.id == 1)
+            )
+        ).scalar_one()
+
     async def recompute_for_tag(self, tag_id: int) -> bool:
         """Recompute one tag's centroid. Returns True if a centroid was
         written, False if skipped (ineligible kind or too few members)."""
@@ -69,19 +83,20 @@ class CentroidService:
             return False
 
         centroid = np.mean(np.stack(embeddings), axis=0).astype(np.float32)
+        model_version = await self._model_version()
 
         stmt = insert(TagReferenceEmbedding).values(
             tag_id=tag_id,
             embedding=centroid.tolist(),
             reference_count=len(embeddings),
-            model_version=SIGLIP_VERSION,
+            model_version=model_version,
         )
         stmt = stmt.on_conflict_do_update(
             index_elements=["tag_id"],
             set_={
                 "embedding": centroid.tolist(),
                 "reference_count": len(embeddings),
-                "model_version": SIGLIP_VERSION,
+                "model_version": model_version,
                 "updated_at": func.now(),
             },
         )
@@ -92,6 +107,7 @@ class CentroidService:
         """Tag ids whose centroid is stale: member count != reference_count,
         OR no centroid row, OR centroid built on a different SigLIP version.
         Only considers eligible-kind tags with embeddings present."""
+        current_model_version = await self._model_version()
         member_counts = (
             select(
                 image_tag.c.tag_id.label("tag_id"),
@@ -116,7 +132,7 @@ class CentroidService:
                     TagReferenceEmbedding.reference_count
                     != member_counts.c.members
                 )
-                | (TagReferenceEmbedding.model_version != SIGLIP_VERSION)
+                | (TagReferenceEmbedding.model_version != current_model_version)
             )
         )
         return list((await self.session.execute(stmt)).scalars().all())
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.vue b/frontend/src/App.vue
index 5cfbdda..67062ad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/App.vue
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
+import { onMounted, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
+
 import AppShell from './components/AppShell.vue'
 import AppSnackbar from './components/AppSnackbar.vue'
 import ImageViewer from './components/modal/ImageViewer.vue'
@@ -17,9 +19,20 @@ import { useModalStore } from './stores/modal.js'
 
 const modal = useModalStore()
 const snackbar = ref(null)
+const route = useRoute()
 
 onMounted(() => {
   // Expose snackbar via a simple global so stores can call it without props.
   window.__fcToast = (opts) => snackbar.value?.open(opts)
 })
+
+// Audit 2026-06-02: the modal is an overlay, not a page. When the
+// route changes (RouterLink inside the modal, history back/forward,
+// programmatic push from any view), close the modal so it doesn't
+// hover over a different route. Watching route.name (not the path)
+// keeps within-route nav like /artist/foo → /artist/bar from
+// dismissing the modal mid-browse.
+watch(() => route.name, () => {
+  if (modal.isOpen) modal.close()
+})
 </script>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/artist/ArtistGalleryTab.vue b/frontend/src/components/artist/ArtistGalleryTab.vue
index 0cc6b7c..f0d2a70 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/artist/ArtistGalleryTab.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/artist/ArtistGalleryTab.vue
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { onMounted, watch } from 'vue'
+import { onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 
 import { useArtistStore } from '../../stores/artist.js'
@@ -28,18 +28,20 @@ const route = useRoute()
 const router = useRouter()
 
 onMounted(() => {
+  // Audit 2026-06-02: same overlay treatment as GalleryView —
+  // honor `?image=N` once for backward-compat, then strip the
+  // query and let the modal live in Pinia-only state.
   const initial = parseInt(route.query.image, 10)
-  if (!isNaN(initial)) modal.open(initial)
-})
-
-watch(() => route.query.image, (q) => {
-  const id = parseInt(q, 10)
-  if (!isNaN(id) && id !== modal.currentImageId) modal.open(id)
-  else if (isNaN(id) && modal.currentImageId !== null) modal.close()
+  if (!isNaN(initial)) {
+    modal.open(initial)
+    const q = { ...route.query }
+    delete q.image
+    router.replace({ query: q })
+  }
 })
 
 function openImage (id) {
-  router.push({ query: { ...route.query, image: id } })
+  modal.open(id)
 }
 </script>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/SuggestionItem.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/SuggestionItem.vue
index 9517649..1a0c541 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/SuggestionItem.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/SuggestionItem.vue
@@ -19,25 +19,34 @@
     >
       Accept
     </v-btn>
-    <v-menu>
-      <template #activator="{ props }">
-        <v-btn
-          class="fc-suggestion__menu"
-          icon="mdi-dots-vertical" size="small"
-          variant="outlined" density="compact"
-          :aria-label="`More actions for ${suggestion.display_name}`"
-          v-bind="props"
-        />
-      </template>
-      <v-list density="compact">
-        <v-list-item @click="$emit('alias', suggestion)">
-          <v-list-item-title>Treat as alias for…</v-list-item-title>
-        </v-list-item>
-        <v-list-item @click="$emit('dismiss', suggestion)">
-          <v-list-item-title>Dismiss for this image</v-list-item-title>
-        </v-list-item>
-      </v-list>
-    </v-menu>
+    <!-- Operator-flagged 2026-06-02: the kebab menu wasn't opening.
+         Wrapping in a <span @click.stop> matches the TagPanel chip
+         fix — even though there's no parent click capture here today,
+         the wrap is harmless and keeps both kebabs on the same
+         pattern. Click bubbles from the v-btn → opens menu via
+         activator props → bubble continues to span → stopPropagation
+         halts it. -->
+    <span class="fc-suggestion__menu-wrap" @click.stop>
+      <v-menu>
+        <template #activator="{ props }">
+          <v-btn
+            class="fc-suggestion__menu"
+            icon="mdi-dots-vertical" size="small"
+            variant="outlined" density="compact"
+            :aria-label="`More actions for ${suggestion.display_name}`"
+            v-bind="props"
+          />
+        </template>
+        <v-list density="compact">
+          <v-list-item @click="$emit('alias', suggestion)">
+            <v-list-item-title>Treat as alias for…</v-list-item-title>
+          </v-list-item>
+          <v-list-item @click="$emit('dismiss', suggestion)">
+            <v-list-item-title>Dismiss for this image</v-list-item-title>
+          </v-list-item>
+        </v-list>
+      </v-menu>
+    </span>
   </div>
 </template>
 
@@ -90,6 +99,11 @@ const scorePct = computed(() => `${Math.round(props.suggestion.score * 100)}%`)
 .fc-suggestion__accept :deep(.v-btn__content) {
   font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.02em;
 }
+.fc-suggestion__menu-wrap {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+}
 .fc-suggestion__menu {
   flex: 0 0 auto;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/TagPanel.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/TagPanel.vue
index da79fe5..9453592 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/TagPanel.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/TagPanel.vue
@@ -10,19 +10,27 @@
       >
         <v-icon start size="x-small">{{ iconFor(tag.kind) }}</v-icon>
         {{ tag.name }}<span v-if="tag.fandom_id">→</span>
-        <v-menu>
-          <template #activator="{ props: mp }">
-            <v-icon
-              v-bind="mp" size="x-small" class="ml-1"
-              icon="mdi-dots-vertical" @click.stop
-            />
-          </template>
-          <v-list density="compact">
-            <v-list-item @click="openRename(tag)">
-              <v-list-item-title>Rename…</v-list-item-title>
-            </v-list-item>
-          </v-list>
-        </v-menu>
+        <!-- Operator-flagged 2026-06-02: the previous activator had
+             `@click.stop` directly on the v-icon, which silently
+             overrode Vuetify's onClick from `v-bind="mp"` — the menu
+             never opened. Now the v-icon receives the activator
+             onClick cleanly, and the wrapping span absorbs the
+             bubbled click so the chip's close button isn't tripped. -->
+        <span class="kebab-wrap" @click.stop>
+          <v-menu>
+            <template #activator="{ props: mp }">
+              <v-icon
+                v-bind="mp" size="x-small" class="ml-1"
+                icon="mdi-dots-vertical"
+              />
+            </template>
+            <v-list density="compact">
+              <v-list-item @click="openRename(tag)">
+                <v-list-item-title>Rename…</v-list-item-title>
+              </v-list-item>
+            </v-list>
+          </v-menu>
+        </span>
       </v-chip>
       <span v-if="!modal.current?.tags?.length" class="text-caption">No tags yet.</span>
     </div>
@@ -113,4 +121,5 @@ async function onRenamed() {
   margin-bottom: 12px;
 }
 .fc-tag-panel__chips { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 6px; }
+.kebab-wrap { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; }
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue b/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
index da45c33..aa10623 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
@@ -47,9 +47,20 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   else if (!isNaN(tagId)) store.setTagFilter(tagId)
   await store.loadInitial()
   await store.loadTimeline()
-  // Open modal if URL has ?image=N
+  // Audit 2026-06-02: modal is now a Pinia-only overlay (see
+  // G5.4 design). The previous URL↔modal sync leaked the modal
+  // across route changes and re-opened it on history back/forward.
+  // We still honor `?image=N` as a one-shot deep-link opener so
+  // existing bookmarks / shared URLs keep working; we strip the
+  // query immediately via router.replace so the URL doesn't
+  // re-trigger and no history entry is added.
   const initial = parseInt(route.query.image, 10)
-  if (!isNaN(initial)) modal.open(initial)
+  if (!isNaN(initial)) {
+    modal.open(initial)
+    const q = { ...route.query }
+    delete q.image
+    router.replace({ query: q })
+  }
 })
 
 watch(() => route.query.tag_id, (q) => {
@@ -64,19 +75,8 @@ watch(() => route.query.post_id, (q) => {
   store.setPostFilter(isNaN(postId) ? null : postId)
 })
 
-watch(() => route.query.image, (q) => {
-  const id = parseInt(q, 10)
-  if (!isNaN(id) && id !== modal.currentImageId) modal.open(id)
-  else if (isNaN(id) && modal.currentImageId !== null) modal.close()
-})
-
 function openImage(id) {
-  router.push({ query: { ...route.query, image: id } })
-}
-function closeImage() {
-  const q = { ...route.query }
-  delete q.image
-  router.push({ query: q })
+  modal.open(id)
 }
 </script>
 
diff --git a/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py b/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
index 547e78e..1692743 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ async def test_get_and_patch_settings(client):
     resp = await client.get("/api/ml/settings")
     assert resp.status_code == 200
     body = await resp.get_json()
-    # Default lowered 0.95 → 0.50 on 2026-06-01 (alembic 0029) — 0.95
-    # hid most general suggestions in the view modal.
-    assert body["suggestion_threshold_general"] == pytest.approx(0.50)
+    # Default raised 0.50 → 0.70 on 2026-06-02 (alembic 0033) — 0.50
+    # was too noisy in practice. The 0.70 default keeps the rail
+    # signal-rich without hiding everything like the original 0.95.
+    assert body["suggestion_threshold_general"] == pytest.approx(0.70)
     # Retired threshold columns must not appear in the payload.
     assert "suggestion_threshold_artist" not in body
     assert "suggestion_threshold_copyright" not in body