diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 286a5c7..3da3d0b 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ async function boot() {
   // is not until the player has actually touched something.
   const audio = createAudio();
   input.onGesture(() => audio.resume());
-  const hud = createHud(seed);
+  const hud = createHud(seed, DEBUG);
   const board = createBoard();
   const driveState = createDriveState();
   const areas = createAreas(model.roads, model.extent);
diff --git a/src/ui/hud.ts b/src/ui/hud.ts
index 1873ead..b61f846 100644
--- a/src/ui/hud.ts
+++ b/src/ui/hud.ts
@@ -112,13 +112,24 @@ function questLines(quest: NonNullable<HudModel['quest']>): string[] {
   ];
 }
 
-export function createHud(seed: number) {
+/**
+ * @param debug Show the scaffolding: heat values, the district's standing, the
+ *   road you are on, and the name of the band you are in.
+ *
+ *   These exist to tune curves, and every one of them actively works against
+ *   the thing it is measuring. Phase 3's gate is telling occupied ground from
+ *   liberated *without being told*, and there was a line on screen naming it.
+ *   Phase 1's gate is avoiding a road because of its history, with a numeric
+ *   heat meter sitting underneath it. You cannot judge either while reading the
+ *   answer, so they live behind `?debug` and the world has to speak for itself.
+ */
+export function createHud(seed: number, debug = false) {
   const el = document.getElementById('hud')!;
   let last = 0;
 
   return {
     update(speedMs: number, condition: CarCondition, now: number, model: HudModel) {
-      // The HUD is debug scaffolding, not the real interface — 10 Hz is plenty.
+      // Text at 10 Hz. Nothing here changes fast enough to want a frame each.
       if (now - last < 0.1) return;
       last = now;
 
@@ -138,21 +149,27 @@ export function createHud(seed: number) {
         '',
         ...(model.quest ? questLines(model.quest) : ['no mission — find a base']),
         '',
-        CONTROL_WORDS[model.control],
+        // Which band you are in is meant to be read off the light, the fog and
+        // who is standing in the street. Naming it hands over the answer.
+        ...(debug ? [CONTROL_WORDS[model.control]] : []),
         ...pursuitLines(model.pursuit),
         ...(model.danger > 0 ? [`⚠ rounds in the air nearby (${model.danger})`] : []),
         '',
-        // Debug only. The real game signals heat through the road itself —
-        // see the design brief: no numeric meter ships.
-        `[debug] road ${
-          model.heat.segmentId === null
-            ? 'off-route'
-            : `#${model.heat.segmentId} ${model.heat.onTarmac ? '(on road)' : '(alongside)'}`
-        }`,
-        `[debug] heat ${bar(model.heat.value)} ${model.heat.level ?? '—'}`,
-        `[debug] area ${bar(model.heat.area)}`,
-        '',
-        `seed ${seed}`,
+        // Heat is meant to be read off what is physically sitting in the road,
+        // so the meter that exists to tune it cannot also be on screen.
+        ...(debug
+          ? [
+              `[debug] road ${
+                model.heat.segmentId === null
+                  ? 'off-route'
+                  : `#${model.heat.segmentId} ${model.heat.onTarmac ? '(on road)' : '(alongside)'}`
+              }`,
+              `[debug] heat ${bar(model.heat.value)} ${model.heat.level ?? '—'}`,
+              `[debug] area ${bar(model.heat.area)}`,
+              '',
+              `[debug] seed ${seed}`,
+            ]
+          : []),
         `WASD drive · space handbrake · R respawn · X drop job at a base` +
           ` · M sound ${model.muted ? 'off' : 'on'}`,
         'hold R to reset the campaign',