The gate keyed off need_build=='true', assuming need_build==false meant
base-latest was already current. A dry-run dispatch (promote_latest=false)
that pre-builds base-<hash> falsifies that: the later tag run sees
need_build==false and skipped promotion, leaving base-latest one base
behind (observed 2026-06-27, v1.2.3 dry-run-first release).
Gate now runs on every tag release / promote dispatch; the no-op
optimization moved into the step as a crane digest compare so it re-tags
only when base-latest actually differs from the released base-<hash>.
Workflow-only change; base hash unaffected (no base rebuild).
pi
b7197e88b0