R1 — Always state which "live" you mean (subscription active / domain resolving / content updated)

Rule: Default to reporting all three definitions of "live" separately. Never let "subscription active" imply "site works." Never let "domain resolving" imply "site is being maintained."

Why: The three definitions diverge — see Three success definitions for DIY-builder sites — subscription active vs domain resolving vs content updated. Conflation is the single most common error in vendor marketing and in anti-DIY agency content.

How to apply: Any Candid client-facing piece referencing DIY-builder longevity must name the definition. Use .com/.net domain renewal — preliminary 75.0% Q4 2025 (final 75.4% Q3 2025); low-to-mid-70s since 2004 for definition (b); pair vendor retention figures with the survivor-only caveat (R2 — Treat every vendor retention number as survivor-only and quarantine it).