Principlev1
Inspect agents during their stable operational phase
Inspect agents during their stable operational phase specifically because they appear to be working, not after they fail — early detection of drift is cheaper than repair after collapse.
Why This Is a Principle
Follows from Knowledge that exists only in tacit form degrades without (tacit knowledge degrades without detection), Exponential Information Decay (information decays predictably), and Belief Perseverance Against Contradictory Evidence (systems maintain existing states even when no longer optimal). The bathtub curve and TPM examples ground the principle that scheduled inspection beats reactive repair.