diff --git a/PROGRESS.md b/PROGRESS.md
index 8ad9a53..2bde1b7 100644
--- a/PROGRESS.md
+++ b/PROGRESS.md
@@ -56,6 +56,35 @@ and until now nothing set them.
 
 ---
 
+## 2026-09-10 — OPML feeds out of the config, a real cap, and daemon output in the log
+
+Three reports in quick succession, all fair.
+
+**"Config is a mess."** It was: 611 lines, 85 feeds, 82 of them machine-generated, drowning the three
+Ray actually chose. Writing derived data into a hand-edited file was the wrong call. OPML children
+now live in the `feeds` table (`managed = 1`, `group_id`), are re-derived every scan, and inherit the
+subscription's settings — so there is nothing to store but a URL and a parent. Editing one promotes
+it to a real config entry, so `config.toml` only ever holds decisions. A one-time migration moves
+existing children out: **611 lines -> 38**, 85 feeds -> 3, with all 3487 entries and 216 files intact.
+
+**"Never download more than 3."** `max_new_per_check` defaulted to *unlimited*, so subscribing to an
+OPML of 82 feeds pulled every back catalogue it could reach — 216 files, 22 GB before it was caught.
+There is now `[general] max_new_per_check = 3`, used whenever a feed does not set its own, so all 83
+uncapped feeds were capped without touching a line of their config. `pending()` also orders by publish
+date now: a cap of 3 meant "the three recorded first", not the three newest.
+
+**"No daemon output in the log."** Scans and downloads travel as events to the socket, not through
+tracing, so the log view showed only startup and HTTP lines. `Emitter::emit` mirrors them now — and
+levelling matters at this scale: at 82 feeds, one INFO line per feed per tick for "not due yet"
+flushed the 2000-line buffer of anything useful in minutes, so routine skips and progress are DEBUG,
+real activity is INFO, failures WARN.
+
+A splice while refactoring cut `reject` and `fetch_one` out of main.rs, and recovering them from git
+over-copied three more. Both caught by the compiler, restored, and verified byte-identical against
+`git show HEAD:src/main.rs` rather than eyeballed.
+
+---
+
 ## 2026-09-10 — Subscribing to an OPML, not just importing one
 
 Asked whether this version could do what iPodderX did: subscribe to an OPML and get a folder of the
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 632175b..bf2254e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ interval_mins  = 60          # default poll; a feed's own <ttl> wins when longer
 organize       = "feed"      # "feed" | "date"
 max_total_gb   = 50          # 0 = unlimited
 max_age_days   = 30          # 0 = keep forever
+max_new_per_check = 3        # per feed, per scan. 0 = unlimited (pulls whole back catalogues)
 
 [torrent]
 enabled        = true
@@ -109,10 +110,14 @@ Two different things, both supported:
 `ipx export subs.opml`, or the OPML button in the UI.
 
 **Subscribing to an OPML URL** is a live subscription, as iPodderX had. Add the OPML's URL like any
-other feed; every scan re-reads it and keeps your feed list in step. Feeds it lists are added under
-that subscription (`group = "<opml-id>"` in the config, grouped in the sidebar) and downloaded into
-one nested folder. New ones are scanned in the same run rather than waiting for the next interval.
-An OPML is recognised by its content, so a URL without a `.opml` extension still works.
+other feed; every scan re-reads it and keeps your feed list in step. An OPML is recognised by its
+content, so a URL without a `.opml` extension still works.
+
+The feeds inside it are **not written to `config.toml`** — the OPML is the source of truth, so they
+are re-derived each scan and held in the database. Your config keeps only what you chose. They show
+as a collapsible folder in the sidebar, download into one nested folder, and newly listed ones are
+scanned in the same run rather than waiting for the next interval. They inherit the subscription's
+settings; change anything on one and it gets its own config entry from then on.
 
 When a feed drops out of the OPML upstream:
 
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index a88559c..1f23e7d 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ pub struct General {
     pub max_total_gb: f64,
     /// 0 = keep forever.
     pub max_age_days: u64,
+    /// How many new enclosures a single scan may take, when a feed does not say.
+    /// Unlimited by default was a trap: subscribing to an OPML of 80 feeds then pulled
+    /// every back-catalogue episode at once. 0 means unlimited, deliberately chosen.
+    pub max_new_per_check: usize,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Deserialize, Serialize)]
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ pub struct Feed {
     /// Overrides the global schedule for this feed. Same forms: "every 6h", "2d".
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub schedule: Option<String>,
-    /// Cap on new downloads per scan. None = unlimited.
+    /// Cap on new downloads per scan for this feed. None follows `[general]`.
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub max_new_per_check: Option<usize>,
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ impl Default for General {
             organize: Organize::Feed,
             max_total_gb: 0.0,
             max_age_days: 0,
+            max_new_per_check: 3,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/db.rs b/src/db.rs
index 35522bf..f420478 100644
--- a/src/db.rs
+++ b/src/db.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS feeds (
     ttl_mins      INTEGER,
     last_error    TEXT,
     -- Came from a subscribed OPML that no longer lists it, but has downloads, so kept.
-    orphaned      INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
+    orphaned      INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    -- The OPML subscription this feed came from.
+    group_id      TEXT,
+    -- 1 = derived from an OPML and not written to config.toml. Writing 80-odd generated
+    -- entries into a hand-edited file made it unreadable; the OPML is the source of
+    -- truth, so they are re-derived instead. Customising one promotes it to config.
+    managed       INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
 );
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS entries (
@@ -65,12 +71,24 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS enclosures (
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS enclosures_entry ON enclosures (feed_id, guid);
 ";
 
+/// A feed derived from an OPML subscription rather than written into the config.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Managed {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub url: String,
+    pub title: Option<String>,
+    pub group_id: String,
+    pub orphaned: bool,
+}
+
 /// Adds columns that later versions introduced. CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS does nothing to
 /// a table that already exists, so an installed database needs them added explicitly.
 fn migrate(conn: &Connection) -> Result<()> {
     let wanted: &[(&str, &str, &str)] = &[
         ("feeds", "image", "TEXT"),
         ("feeds", "orphaned", "INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"),
+        ("feeds", "group_id", "TEXT"),
+        ("feeds", "managed", "INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"),
         ("entries", "image", "TEXT"),
         ("entries", "duration", "INTEGER"),
         ("entries", "episode", "INTEGER"),
@@ -355,8 +373,13 @@ impl Db {
     pub fn pending(&self, feed_id: &str, limit: usize) -> Result<Vec<Pending>> {
         let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
         let mut stmt = conn.prepare(
-            "SELECT id, url, mime FROM enclosures
-             WHERE feed_id = ?1 AND state = 'pending' ORDER BY id LIMIT ?2",
+            // Newest first: a cap of 3 should mean the three latest episodes, not the
+            // three that happen to have been recorded first.
+            "SELECT x.id, x.url, x.mime FROM enclosures x
+             JOIN entries e ON e.feed_id = x.feed_id AND e.guid = x.guid
+             WHERE x.feed_id = ?1 AND x.state = 'pending'
+             ORDER BY coalesce(e.published, e.first_seen) DESC, x.id DESC
+             LIMIT ?2",
         )?;
         let rows = stmt
             .query_map(rusqlite::params![feed_id, limit as i64], |r| {
@@ -725,6 +748,77 @@ impl Db {
         )?)
     }
 
+    /// Names a feed without touching its conditional-GET validators. An OPML subscription
+    /// takes its name from the document's own <head><title>.
+    pub fn set_title(&self, feed_id: &str, title: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        conn.execute(
+            "UPDATE feeds SET title = ?2 WHERE id = ?1 AND coalesce(title, '') != ?2",
+            rusqlite::params![feed_id, title],
+        )?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Records a feed that came from an OPML. Its settings are the parent's; only what
+    /// identifies it is stored.
+    pub fn upsert_managed(
+        &self,
+        id: &str,
+        url: &str,
+        title: &str,
+        group_id: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO feeds (id, url, title, group_id, managed, orphaned)
+             VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, 1, 0)
+             ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+                url = excluded.url,
+                title = coalesce(feeds.title, excluded.title),
+                group_id = excluded.group_id,
+                managed = 1,
+                orphaned = 0",
+            rusqlite::params![id, url, title, group_id],
+        )?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Every feed derived from an OPML, whichever group.
+    pub fn managed_feeds(&self) -> Result<Vec<Managed>> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut stmt = conn.prepare(
+            "SELECT id, url, title, group_id, orphaned FROM feeds
+             WHERE managed = 1 AND group_id IS NOT NULL ORDER BY coalesce(title, id)",
+        )?;
+        Ok(stmt
+            .query_map([], |r| {
+                Ok(Managed {
+                    id: r.get(0)?,
+                    url: r.get(1)?,
+                    title: r.get(2)?,
+                    group_id: r.get(3)?,
+                    orphaned: r.get::<_, i64>(4)? != 0,
+                })
+            })?
+            .collect::<rusqlite::Result<Vec<_>>>()?)
+    }
+
+    /// Forgets a derived feed entirely. Only for one with nothing downloaded.
+    pub fn drop_managed(&self, id: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM feeds WHERE id = ?1 AND managed = 1", [id])?;
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM entries WHERE feed_id = ?1", [id])?;
+        conn.execute("DELETE FROM enclosures WHERE feed_id = ?1 AND path IS NULL", [id])?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Stops treating a feed as derived, because it now has its own config entry.
+    pub fn unmanage(&self, id: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        conn.execute("UPDATE feeds SET managed = 0 WHERE id = ?1", [id])?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn set_orphaned(&self, feed_id: &str, on: bool) -> Result<()> {
         let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
         conn.execute(
@@ -825,6 +919,23 @@ mod tests {
             "search is case-insensitive and covers the description");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn pending_takes_the_latest_episodes_first() {
+        // A cap of 3 must mean the three newest, not the three recorded first.
+        let db = Db::memory().unwrap();
+        db.exec_for_test(
+            "INSERT INTO entries (feed_id, guid, published, first_seen) VALUES
+                ('f','old',100,100), ('f','mid',200,200), ('f','new',300,300);
+             INSERT INTO enclosures (id, feed_id, guid, url, state) VALUES
+                (1,'f','old','u-old','pending'),
+                (2,'f','mid','u-mid','pending'),
+                (3,'f','new','u-new','pending');",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let got: Vec<String> = db.pending("f", 2).unwrap().into_iter().map(|p| p.url).collect();
+        assert_eq!(got, vec!["u-new", "u-mid"], "newest first, oldest left for later");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_restart_requeues_interrupted_downloads() {
         let db = Db::memory().unwrap();
diff --git a/src/ipc.rs b/src/ipc.rs
index 9718884..f1337e6 100644
--- a/src/ipc.rs
+++ b/src/ipc.rs
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ impl Event {
             }
             Event::Error { msg } => format!("error: {msg}"),
             // Noise in a terminal; a UI still gets them on the socket.
-            Event::FeedStart { .. } | Event::TorrentDeferred { .. } | Event::ScanDone { .. } => {
-                return None;
-            }
+            Event::FeedStart { feed } => format!("{feed}: checking"),
+            Event::TorrentDeferred { feed, .. } => format!("{feed}: torrent deferred"),
+            Event::ScanDone { feeds } => format!("scan complete, {feeds} feed(s)"),
         })
     }
 }
@@ -119,6 +119,35 @@ impl Emitter {
     }
 
     pub fn emit(&self, e: Event) {
+        // Also log it. Scans and downloads travel as events, not tracing calls, so
+        // without this the log view shows only startup and HTTP lines and none of the
+        // work the daemon is actually doing. Progress goes to debug: it fires on every
+        // whole percent and would otherwise crowd everything else out of the buffer.
+        // Level by how much it matters. With 80-odd feeds in an OPML subscription, one
+        // line per feed per tick for "not due yet" would push everything worth reading
+        // out of the buffer within a few minutes.
+        let routine = match &e {
+            Event::Progress { .. } | Event::FeedSkip { .. } | Event::FeedStart { .. } => true,
+            Event::FeedDone { new, downloaded, failed, torrents, .. } => {
+                *new == 0 && *downloaded == 0 && *failed == 0 && *torrents == 0
+            }
+            _ => false,
+        };
+        let bad = matches!(
+            &e,
+            Event::FeedError { .. } | Event::DownloadError { .. } | Event::Error { .. }
+        );
+        if let Some(line) = e.human() {
+            let line = line.trim();
+            if bad {
+                tracing::warn!(target: "ipx::scan", "{line}");
+            } else if routine {
+                tracing::debug!(target: "ipx::scan", "{line}");
+            } else {
+                tracing::info!(target: "ipx::scan", "{line}");
+            }
+        }
+
         if let Some(tx) = &self.tx {
             // An error here only means nobody is listening yet.
             let _ = tx.send(e.clone());
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 029241b..852571d 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -217,6 +217,12 @@ async fn daemon(
         anyhow::bail!("a daemon is already listening on {}", socket.display());
     }
 
+    match migrate_opml_children(&ctx) {
+        Ok(n) if n > 0 => tracing::info!(count = n, "moved OPML feeds out of config.toml into the database"),
+        Ok(_) => {}
+        Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "could not tidy OPML feeds out of the config"),
+    }
+
     match ctx.db.requeue_interrupted() {
         Ok(n) if n > 0 => tracing::info!(count = n, "requeued downloads interrupted by a restart"),
         Ok(_) => {}
@@ -549,19 +555,17 @@ fn reap(ctx: &Ctx, dry_run: bool, standalone: bool) -> Result<()> {
 
 async fn fetch(ctx: &Arc<Ctx>, only: Option<&str>, force: bool) -> Result<()> {
     let cfg = ctx.cfg();
+    let subs = subscriptions(ctx)?;
     if let Some(id) = only
-        && !cfg.feeds.contains_key(id)
+        && !subs.iter().any(|s| s.id == id)
     {
         anyhow::bail!("no feed with id {id:?}");
     }
 
     let mut scanned = 0;
     let mut fresh: Vec<String> = vec![];
-    for (id, feed_cfg) in cfg
-        .feeds
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|(id, _)| only.is_none_or(|o| o == *id))
-    {
+    for sub in subs.iter().filter(|s| only.is_none_or(|o| o == s.id)) {
+        let (id, feed_cfg) = (&sub.id, &sub.cfg);
         let state = ctx.db.http_state(id)?;
 
         if !force && let Some(last) = state.last_checked {
@@ -611,9 +615,11 @@ async fn fetch(ctx: &Arc<Ctx>, only: Option<&str>, force: bool) -> Result<()> {
     }
     // Feeds a subscribed OPML just introduced: scan them now, in this run.
     if !fresh.is_empty() {
-        let cfg = ctx.cfg();
+        let subs = subscriptions(ctx)?;
         for id in &fresh {
-            let Some(feed_cfg) = cfg.feeds.get(id) else { continue };
+            let Some(feed_cfg) = subs.iter().find(|s| &s.id == id).map(|s| &s.cfg) else {
+                continue;
+            };
             scanned += 1;
             ctx.out.emit(Event::FeedStart { feed: id.clone() });
             let state = ctx.db.http_state(id)?;
@@ -638,6 +644,89 @@ async fn fetch(ctx: &Arc<Ctx>, only: Option<&str>, force: bool) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// One feed to scan: either an entry you wrote in config.toml, or one derived from an
+/// OPML subscription and held only in the database.
+pub struct Sub {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub cfg: config::Feed,
+    /// True when it came from an OPML and has no config entry of its own.
+    pub managed: bool,
+}
+
+/// Everything to scan: your config entries, plus whatever the OPML subscriptions listed.
+///
+/// A derived feed borrows its parent's settings wholesale. That is why it needs no config
+/// entry -- there is nothing to store but its URL and where it came from.
+pub fn subscriptions(ctx: &Ctx) -> Result<Vec<Sub>> {
+    let cfg = ctx.cfg();
+    let mut out: Vec<Sub> = cfg
+        .feeds
+        .iter()
+        .map(|(id, f)| Sub { id: id.clone(), cfg: f.clone(), managed: false })
+        .collect();
+
+    for m in ctx.db.managed_feeds()? {
+        if cfg.feeds.contains_key(&m.id) {
+            continue; // promoted to config at some point; that entry wins
+        }
+        let parent = cfg.feeds.get(&m.group_id);
+        let base = parent
+            .and_then(|p| p.folder.clone())
+            .or_else(|| ctx.db.feed_summary(&m.group_id).ok().and_then(|s| s.title))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| m.group_id.clone());
+        let title = m.title.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| m.id.clone());
+        out.push(Sub {
+            id: m.id.clone(),
+            cfg: config::Feed {
+                url: m.url.clone(),
+                folder: Some(format!("{base}/{title}")),
+                group: Some(m.group_id.clone()),
+                schedule: parent.and_then(|p| p.schedule.clone()),
+                keywords: parent.map(|p| p.keywords.clone()).unwrap_or_default(),
+                allow_explicit: parent.is_some_and(|p| p.allow_explicit),
+                auto_download: parent.is_none_or(|p| p.auto_download),
+                max_new_per_check: parent.and_then(|p| p.max_new_per_check),
+                username: parent.and_then(|p| p.username.clone()),
+                password: parent.and_then(|p| p.password.clone()),
+                password_env: parent.and_then(|p| p.password_env.clone()),
+            },
+            managed: true,
+        });
+    }
+    out.sort_by(|a, b| a.id.cmp(&b.id));
+    Ok(out)
+}
+
+/// Moves OPML children that older versions wrote into config.toml over to the database.
+/// They were never yours to edit, and 80-odd of them made the file unreadable.
+fn migrate_opml_children(ctx: &Ctx) -> Result<usize> {
+    let cfg = (*ctx.cfg()).clone();
+    let children: Vec<(String, config::Feed)> = cfg
+        .feeds
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|(_, f)| f.group.is_some())
+        .map(|(id, f)| (id.clone(), f.clone()))
+        .collect();
+    if children.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(0);
+    }
+    let mut fresh = cfg.clone();
+    for (id, f) in &children {
+        let group = f.group.clone().unwrap_or_default();
+        let title = ctx
+            .db
+            .feed_summary(id)
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|s| s.title)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| id.clone());
+        ctx.db.upsert_managed(id, &f.url, &title, &group)?;
+        fresh.feeds.remove(id);
+    }
+    fresh.save(&ctx.config_path)?;
+    ctx.reload_cfg(&ctx.config_path)?;
+    Ok(children.len())
+}
+
 /// Seconds to wait before re-checking a feed.
 ///
 /// A per-feed schedule is an explicit instruction and wins outright. Without one, the
@@ -724,7 +813,11 @@ async fn scan_one(
         }
     }
 
-    let budget = feed_cfg.max_new_per_check.unwrap_or(usize::MAX);
+    // An unset per-feed cap follows the global one; 0 there means unlimited.
+    let budget = feed_cfg.max_new_per_check.unwrap_or_else(|| {
+        let g = ctx.cfg().general.max_new_per_check;
+        if g == 0 { usize::MAX } else { g }
+    });
     if feed_cfg.auto_download && budget > 0 {
         let cfg = ctx.cfg();
         let folder = download::folder_for(&cfg, id, feed_cfg, parsed.title.as_deref());
@@ -816,71 +909,54 @@ async fn sync_opml(
     bytes: &[u8],
 ) -> Result<Outcome> {
     let listed = feed::parse_opml(bytes)?;
-    let mut cfg = (*ctx.cfg()).clone();
-
-    let base_folder = parent
-        .folder
-        .clone()
-        .or_else(|| ctx.db.feed_summary(parent_id).ok().and_then(|s| s.title))
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| parent_id.to_owned());
+    if let Some(title) = feed::opml_title(bytes) {
+        ctx.db.set_title(parent_id, &title)?;
+    }
 
+    let cfg = ctx.cfg();
+    let existing = ctx.db.managed_feeds()?;
     let mut added = vec![];
+
     for (title, url) in &listed {
-        if let Some((id, _)) = cfg.feeds.iter().find(|(_, f)| &f.url == url) {
-            // Already subscribed. If it had been flagged as gone, it is back.
-            let id = id.clone();
-            let _ = ctx.db.set_orphaned(&id, false);
+        // Already known, whether derived or promoted into the config.
+        if let Some(m) = existing.iter().find(|m| &m.url == url) {
+            ctx.db.upsert_managed(&m.id, url, title, parent_id)?;
             continue;
         }
-        let id = config::unique_slug(title, &cfg.feeds);
-        cfg.feeds.insert(
-            id.clone(),
-            config::Feed {
-                url: url.clone(),
-                // Nested, so the whole subscription lands in one folder.
-                folder: Some(format!("{base_folder}/{title}")),
-                group: Some(parent_id.to_owned()),
-                schedule: parent.schedule.clone(),
-                keywords: parent.keywords.clone(),
-                allow_explicit: parent.allow_explicit,
-                auto_download: parent.auto_download,
-                max_new_per_check: parent.max_new_per_check,
-                username: parent.username.clone(),
-                password: parent.password.clone(),
-                password_env: parent.password_env.clone(),
-            },
-        );
+        if cfg.feeds.values().any(|f| &f.url == url) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let taken: std::collections::BTreeMap<String, config::Feed> = cfg
+            .feeds
+            .keys()
+            .chain(existing.iter().map(|m| &m.id))
+            .chain(added.iter())
+            .map(|id| (id.clone(), parent.clone()))
+            .collect();
+        let id = config::unique_slug(title, &taken);
+        ctx.db.upsert_managed(&id, url, title, parent_id)?;
         added.push(id);
     }
 
     // Anything in this group the OPML no longer lists.
-    let gone: Vec<String> = cfg
-        .feeds
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|(_, f)| f.group.as_deref() == Some(parent_id))
-        .filter(|(_, f)| !listed.iter().any(|(_, u)| u == &f.url))
-        .map(|(id, _)| id.clone())
-        .collect();
-
     let mut removed = 0;
     let mut kept = 0;
-    for id in gone {
-        if ctx.db.downloaded_count(&id).unwrap_or(1) > 0 {
+    for m in existing.iter().filter(|m| m.group_id == parent_id) {
+        if listed.iter().any(|(_, u)| u == &m.url) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if ctx.db.downloaded_count(&m.id).unwrap_or(1) > 0 {
             // Never orphan a downloaded file: keep the feed and say why in the UI.
-            ctx.db.set_orphaned(&id, true)?;
+            ctx.db.set_orphaned(&m.id, true)?;
             kept += 1;
-            tracing::info!(feed = %id, "dropped from the OPML but has downloads; keeping it");
+            tracing::info!(feed = %m.id, "dropped from the OPML but has downloads; keeping it");
         } else {
-            cfg.feeds.remove(&id);
+            ctx.db.drop_managed(&m.id)?;
             removed += 1;
-            tracing::info!(feed = %id, "dropped from the OPML with nothing downloaded; unsubscribed");
+            tracing::info!(feed = %m.id, "dropped from the OPML with nothing downloaded; removed");
         }
     }
 
-    if !added.is_empty() || removed > 0 {
-        cfg.save(&ctx.config_path)?;
-        ctx.reload_cfg(&ctx.config_path)?;
-    }
     Ok(Outcome::Opml { added, removed, kept, total: listed.len() })
 }
 
diff --git a/src/web.rs b/src/web.rs
index 5677378..df22fca 100644
--- a/src/web.rs
+++ b/src/web.rs
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ struct FeedRow {
     group: Option<String>,
     /// In a group, but the OPML no longer lists it. Kept because it has downloads.
     orphaned: bool,
+    managed: bool,
     schedule: Option<String>,
     /// The feed's own override in minutes, so the UI need not re-parse the string.
     schedule_mins: Option<u64>,
@@ -174,8 +175,11 @@ struct FeedRow {
 
 async fn feeds(State(state): State<WebState>) -> Result<Json<Vec<FeedRow>>, ApiError> {
     let cfg = state.ctx.cfg();
-    let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(cfg.feeds.len());
-    for (id, feed) in &cfg.feeds {
+    // Config entries plus the feeds derived from OPML subscriptions.
+    let subs = crate::subscriptions(&state.ctx)?;
+    let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(subs.len());
+    for sub in &subs {
+        let (id, feed) = (&sub.id, &sub.cfg);
         let s = state.ctx.db.feed_summary(id)?;
         let st = state.ctx.db.http_state(id)?;
         out.push(FeedRow {
@@ -190,6 +194,8 @@ async fn feeds(State(state): State<WebState>) -> Result<Json<Vec<FeedRow>>, ApiE
             max_new_per_check: feed.max_new_per_check,
             group: feed.group.clone(),
             orphaned: s.orphaned,
+            // Derived from an OPML and not written to config until you change something.
+            managed: sub.managed,
             schedule: feed.schedule.clone(),
             schedule_mins: feed
                 .schedule
@@ -435,6 +441,18 @@ async fn patch_feed(
 ) -> Result<StatusCode, ApiError> {
     let mut cfg = (*state.ctx.cfg()).clone();
 
+    // Derived feeds have no config entry. Editing one is the moment it earns a real
+    // entry: promote it, so the config holds your decisions and nothing else.
+    if !cfg.feeds.contains_key(&id) {
+        let subs = crate::subscriptions(&state.ctx)?;
+        let found = subs
+            .iter()
+            .find(|s| s.id == id)
+            .ok_or_else(|| ApiError::bad_request(format!("no feed with id {id:?}")))?;
+        cfg.feeds.insert(id.clone(), found.cfg.clone());
+        state.ctx.db.unmanage(&id)?;
+    }
+
     let checked = match &body.url {
         Some(u) => Some(check_url(u, &id, &cfg.feeds).map_err(ApiError::bad_request)?),
         None => None,
@@ -493,7 +511,10 @@ async fn remove_feed(
 ) -> Result<StatusCode, ApiError> {
     let mut cfg = (*state.ctx.cfg()).clone();
     if cfg.feeds.remove(&id).is_none() {
-        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("no feed with id {id:?}").into());
+        // A derived feed: forget it here, though the OPML will list it again on the next
+        // read unless you unsubscribe from the OPML itself.
+        state.ctx.db.drop_managed(&id)?;
+        return Ok(StatusCode::NO_CONTENT);
     }
     // Downloads and history stay, so re-adding does not re-pull the back catalogue.
     cfg.save(&state.config_path)?;
@@ -750,6 +771,7 @@ async fn import_opml(
 struct Settings {
     schedule: String,
     every_mins: u64,
+    max_new_per_check: usize,
     download_dir: String,
     max_total_gb: f64,
     max_age_days: u64,
@@ -760,6 +782,7 @@ async fn get_settings(State(state): State<WebState>) -> Json<Settings> {
     Json(Settings {
         schedule: cfg.general.schedule.clone(),
         every_mins: cfg.general.interval(),
+        max_new_per_check: cfg.general.max_new_per_check,
         download_dir: cfg.general.download_dir.display().to_string(),
         max_total_gb: cfg.general.max_total_gb,
         max_age_days: cfg.general.max_age_days,
@@ -769,6 +792,7 @@ async fn get_settings(State(state): State<WebState>) -> Json<Settings> {
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 struct SettingsPatch {
     schedule: Option<String>,
+    max_new_per_check: Option<usize>,
     max_total_gb: Option<f64>,
     max_age_days: Option<u64>,
 }
@@ -789,6 +813,9 @@ async fn patch_settings(
         // The legacy key would otherwise keep shadowing intent in the file.
         cfg.general.interval_mins = None;
     }
+    if let Some(v) = body.max_new_per_check {
+        cfg.general.max_new_per_check = v;
+    }
     if let Some(v) = body.max_total_gb {
         cfg.general.max_total_gb = v.max(0.0);
     }
diff --git a/tests/page-smoke.js b/tests/page-smoke.js
index f11a1eb..01d6ec6 100644
--- a/tests/page-smoke.js
+++ b/tests/page-smoke.js
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ const drive = [
   ['removeFeed', () => ctx.removeFeed(feed)],
   ['prefsModal', () => ctx.prefsModal()],
   ['logsModal', () => ctx.logsModal()],
+  // `const S` is not reachable from here: top-level const/let do not become properties
+  // of a vm context the way var and function declarations do.
+  ['renderGroup', () => ctx.renderGroup(feed, [{ ...feed, id: 'child', group: 'f', orphaned: true }])],
 ];
 for (const [name, fn] of drive) {
   try {
diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index 52f3e8d..b0586b7 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -94,7 +94,21 @@ input:focus,select:focus{outline:0;border-color:var(--accent)}
 .feed.sel{background:var(--raise)}
 .feed.child{margin-left:14px}
 .feed.child .art{width:28px;height:28px;font-size:11px}
-.feed.group>.txt>b::after{content:" ⌄";color:var(--faint);font-weight:400}
+.chev{
+  flex:none;width:18px;height:18px;display:grid;place-items:center;border-radius:4px;
+  color:var(--faint);font-size:11px;transition:transform .12s;
+}
+.chev:hover{background:var(--raise);color:var(--fg)}
+.chev.open{transform:rotate(90deg)}
+.childlist{display:grid;gap:4px;margin-top:10px}
+.childrow{
+  display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:center;padding:7px 9px;border:1px solid var(--line);
+  border-radius:9px;cursor:pointer;background:var(--panel);
+}
+.childrow:hover{border-color:var(--accent)}
+.childrow .art{width:32px;height:32px;font-size:12px}
+.childrow .txt{flex:1;min-width:0}
+.childrow .txt b{display:block;font-size:13.5px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap}
 .tag{
   font-size:10px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;font-weight:700;
   padding:1px 5px;border-radius:4px;background:var(--raise);color:var(--warn);flex:none;
@@ -402,7 +416,7 @@ const LIMIT = 50;
 /* ---------------- feeds ---------------- */
 async function loadFeeds(keepSel){
   S.feeds = await api('/api/feeds');
-  api('/api/settings').then(g=>{globalEvery=g.every_mins}).catch(()=>{});
+  api('/api/settings').then(g=>{globalEvery=g.every_mins;globalMax=g.max_new_per_check}).catch(()=>{});
   renderFeeds();
   if(!keepSel && !S.feed && S.feeds.length) selectFeed(S.feeds[0].id);
 }
@@ -418,19 +432,26 @@ function renderFeeds(){
   for(const f of shown){
     if(f.group && byId[f.group]) continue;   // drawn under its parent instead
     order.push([f,0]);
-    for(const c of shown) if(c.group===f.id) order.push([c,1]);
+    // A subscription can hold dozens of feeds, so the folder starts closed.
+    if(!collapsed.has(f.id) || q) for(const c of shown) if(c.group===f.id) order.push([c,1]);
   }
   for(const [f,depth] of order){
     const kids=shown.filter(c=>c.group===f.id).length;
     const el=document.createElement('div');
     el.className='feed'+(S.feed===f.id?' sel':'')+(depth?' child':'')+(kids?' group':'');
-    el.innerHTML = artHTML(f.image,f.title||f.id)+
+    const open = kids && (!collapsed.has(f.id) || q);
+    el.innerHTML =
+      (kids?`<span class="chev${open?' open':''}" title="Show or hide the feeds inside">▶</span>`:'')+
+      artHTML(f.image,f.title||f.id)+
       `<div class="txt"><b>${esc(f.title||f.id)}</b><small>`+
-      (kids?`${kids} feed${kids===1?'':'s'}`:`${f.entries} eps · ${f.downloaded} saved`)+
+      (kids?`${kids} feed${kids===1?'':'s'}${f.unread?` · ${f.unread} unread`:''}`
+          :`${f.entries} eps · ${f.downloaded} saved`)+
       `</small></div>`+
       (f.orphaned?'<span class="tag" title="No longer listed in the OPML, kept because it has downloads">gone</span>':'')+
       `<span class="badge${f.unread?'':' zero'}">${f.unread}</span>`;
     el.onclick=()=>{ selectFeed(f.id); $('#sidebar').classList.remove('open'); };
+    const chev=$('.chev',el);
+    if(chev) chev.onclick=ev=>{ ev.stopPropagation(); toggleGroup(f.id); };
     list.appendChild(el);
   }
 }
@@ -443,6 +464,8 @@ function selectFeed(id){
 function renderFeed(){
   const f=S.feeds.find(x=>x.id===S.feed);
   if(!f){ $('#content').innerHTML='<p class="empty">Add a feed to get started.</p>'; return; }
+  const kids=S.feeds.filter(c=>c.group===f.id);
+  if(kids.length){ renderGroup(f,kids); return; }
   $('#content').innerHTML = `
     <div class="fhead">
       ${artHTML(f.image,f.title||f.id)}
@@ -478,6 +501,58 @@ function renderFeed(){
   let t; $('#epSearch').oninput=e=>{clearTimeout(t);t=setTimeout(()=>{S.q=e.target.value;S.offset=0;loadEntries()},250)};
 }
 
+/// An OPML subscription's page lists the feeds inside it rather than episodes, but keeps
+/// every action a normal feed has -- it is still an ordinary feed entry underneath.
+function renderGroup(f,kids){
+  const unread=kids.reduce((n,c)=>n+c.unread,0);
+  const saved=kids.reduce((n,c)=>n+c.downloaded,0);
+  const gone=kids.filter(c=>c.orphaned).length;
+  $('#content').innerHTML = `
+    <div class="fhead">
+      ${artHTML(f.image,f.title||f.id)}
+      <div class="meta">
+        <h2>${esc(f.title||f.id)}</h2>
+        <div class="sub">OPML subscription · ${kids.length} feed${kids.length===1?'':'s'}
+          · ${unread} unread · ${saved} downloaded · checked ${ago(f.last_checked)}
+          · every ${everyText(f.every_mins)}</div>
+        ${f.last_error?`<div class="sub" style="color:var(--bad)">${esc(f.last_error)}</div>`:''}
+        ${gone?`<div class="sub" style="color:var(--warn)">${gone} feed${gone===1?' is':'s are'} no longer
+          listed in this OPML but kept because ${gone===1?'it has':'they have'} downloads.</div>`:''}
+        <div class="acts">
+          <button class="btn primary" data-a="scan">Re-read OPML</button>
+          <button class="btn" data-a="settings">Settings</button>
+          <button class="btn danger" data-a="rm">Unsubscribe</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="toolbar">
+      <input type="search" class="grow" id="kidSearch" placeholder="Search these feeds…">
+      <span style="color:var(--faint);font-size:12.5px">${esc(f.url)}</span>
+    </div>
+    <div class="childlist" id="kidlist"></div>`;
+  $$('#content .acts .btn').forEach(b=>b.onclick=()=>feedAction(b.dataset.a,f));
+  const draw=()=>{
+    const q=($('#kidSearch').value||'').trim().toLowerCase();
+    const box=$('#kidlist'); box.innerHTML='';
+    const rows=kids.filter(c=>!q||(c.title||c.id).toLowerCase().includes(q));
+    if(!rows.length){ box.innerHTML='<p class="empty">Nothing matches.</p>'; return; }
+    for(const c of rows){
+      const el=document.createElement('div');
+      el.className='childrow';
+      el.innerHTML = artHTML(c.image,c.title||c.id)+
+        `<div class="txt"><b>${esc(c.title||c.id)}</b>`+
+        `<small class="meta">${c.entries} eps · ${c.downloaded} downloaded`+
+        (c.last_error?` · <span style="color:var(--bad)">error</span>`:'')+`</small></div>`+
+        (c.orphaned?'<span class="tag">gone</span>':'')+
+        `<span class="badge${c.unread?'':' zero'}">${c.unread}</span>`;
+      el.onclick=()=>selectFeed(c.id);
+      box.appendChild(el);
+    }
+  };
+  $('#kidSearch').oninput=draw;
+  draw();
+}
+
 async function feedAction(a,f){
   if(a==='scan'){ toast('Scanning '+(f.title||f.id)+'…'); await api('/api/fetch',{method:'POST',body:JSON.stringify({feed:f.id,force:true})}); }
   if(a==='read'){ const r=await api(`/api/feeds/${encodeURIComponent(f.id)}/read-all`,{method:'POST'}); toast(`Marked ${r.marked} read`); await loadFeeds(true); loadEntries(); }
@@ -780,7 +855,13 @@ $('#addFeed').onclick=()=>{
   };
 };
 
-let globalEvery = 60;
+let collapsed = new Set(JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('ipx.collapsed')||'[]'));
+function toggleGroup(id){
+  collapsed.has(id) ? collapsed.delete(id) : collapsed.add(id);
+  try{ localStorage.setItem('ipx.collapsed', JSON.stringify([...collapsed])); }catch{}
+  renderFeeds();
+}
+let globalEvery = 60, globalMax = 3;
 const UNITS = [['m','minutes'],['h','hours'],['d','days'],['w','weeks']];
 const UNIT_MINS = {m:1, h:60, d:1440, w:10080};
 
@@ -822,6 +903,11 @@ async function prefsModal(){
       </div>
       <span class="hint">Applies to every feed that does not set its own. A feed's suggested
       interval (its <b>ttl</b>) is still honoured when it asks to be polled less often.</span></div>
+    <div class="field"><label>Max new downloads per scan, per feed</label>
+      <input type="number" id="gmax" min="0" max="999" value="${g.max_new_per_check}">
+      <span class="hint">Applies to any feed that does not set its own — including every feed
+      inside an OPML subscription. <b>0 means unlimited</b>, which will pull a whole back
+      catalogue the first time a feed is scanned.</span></div>
     <div class="field"><label>Disk quota (GB, 0 = unlimited)</label>
       <input type="number" id="gquota" min="0" step="0.5" value="${g.max_total_gb}">
       <span class="hint">Over this, the oldest played episodes are deleted first. Starred
@@ -836,6 +922,7 @@ async function prefsModal(){
     try{
       await api('/api/settings',{method:'PATCH',body:JSON.stringify({
         schedule:`every ${Math.max(1,Number($('#gnum').value)||1)}${$('#gunit').value}`,
+        max_new_per_check:Math.max(0,Number($('#gmax').value)||0),
         max_total_gb:Number($('#gquota').value)||0,
         max_age_days:Number($('#gage').value)||0})});
       closeModal(); toast('Settings saved');
@@ -846,7 +933,13 @@ async function prefsModal(){
 
 function settingsModal(f){
   const fs = splitEvery(f.schedule_mins || globalEvery);
+  const isGroup = S.feeds.some(c=>c.group===f.id);
   openModal(`<h3>${esc(f.title||f.id)}</h3>
+    ${isGroup?`<p class="hint" style="margin:-6px 0 12px">This is an OPML subscription. These
+      settings apply to it and are inherited by every feed inside it.</p>`:''}
+    ${f.managed?`<p class="hint" style="margin:-6px 0 12px">This feed comes from an OPML
+      subscription and follows its settings. Saving anything here gives it its own entry in
+      config.toml, and it stops following the subscription's settings.</p>`:''}
     <div class="field"><label>Download folder</label>
       <input type="text" id="sfolder" value="${esc(f.folder||'')}" placeholder="${esc(f.title||f.id)}"></div>
     <div class="field"><label>Keywords</label>
@@ -861,7 +954,8 @@ function settingsModal(f){
       interval, for this feed only.</span></div>
     <div class="field"><label>Max new downloads per scan</label>
       <input type="number" id="smax" min="0" value="${f.max_new_per_check??''}">
-      <span class="hint">Blank means no limit. The rest wait for the next scan.</span></div>
+      <span class="hint">Blank follows the global default (${globalMax}). The rest wait for
+      the next scan.</span></div>
     <label class="check"><input type="checkbox" id="sauto" ${f.auto_download?'checked':''}> Download new episodes automatically</label>
     <label class="check"><input type="checkbox" id="sexp" ${f.allow_explicit?'checked':''}> Allow episodes marked explicit</label>
     <div class="field"><label>Feed URL</label>