For the kukie skip, I see it as a more optimal way to complete the only possible path on the level. It isn't necessarily a different path or route, it is just a more optimal strategy like bouncing in the maze in Intermediate. I've always thought of the category as "when there is a path split, take the slower path", but that might not be how it was envisioned when created - because that could imply that you have to take the ramp in Practice like the high score run.

If we say the kukie skip isn't allowed, it seems more like we are disallowing specific strategies that don't enable an alternative path through the level. The silly skip is actually allowing an alternative path through the level, so I don't see them as being equal.

That being said, I am fine disallowing the cycle skip by considering it "short cycle" vs "long cycle". It does seem a little arbitrary, but it is nice to have the level be different in some way than normal any%. Should Practice requirements change to have to take the ramp route?

A related question - in Silly right before the birds, why not take the lower route, rather than going by the screen bounce hole? I think the tas goes lower, but is it faster or slower for people? If it is slower, then would that be the longer way?

@alex_kaboom check out the top 2 runs on the Any% board at the end of ultimate to see the skip in question.