v0.18.96 — release-only patch alignment

Changed

• Release alignment. Advances the root and operator-app package versions to 0.18.96 so the in-app version, repository changelog, website changelog, and eventual git tag line up with the current green mainline.

Operations

• Confirms this release contains no runtime code changes; it preserves the already-merged, production-ready state after the latest inbox/settings stabilization work.
• Notes that the GB-Agent additive settings migration is present in production and recent noisy build stderr entries are expected negative-path test output, not failing assertions.