First, speedruns require you to use 1.6, anything newer has loading time differences. Second, what input plugin are you using? N-Rage 2.x or 1.83 is recommended.
All BLJs, clips, and other sequence breaks are allowed in Coop categories. Feel free to LBLJ to your heart's content.
The most recent version of Net64 (2.3), has button in the top right to host a server. The set up from there relatively simple unless you want to have your server appear on the public server list. If you need more help, feel free to ask on the SM64O Speedrunning Discord.
Is there any chance that any discoveries made could get Usamune to run on Wii VC?
Yes, any version above 1.6 has the same issues
31 Star is a category extension speedrun.com/sm64memes#31_Star
Yeah, I understand that no one really has any reason to play on Shindou but I find it hard to believe not a single person has done a run on Shindou. If nothing else, it would be neat to know what the Shindou WRs are.
Why isn't there any sort of Shindou competition? For the runs that are possible, shouldn't there be some sort of check box to say you're playing on the Shindou Edition just for all official N64 releases to be on the leaderboard?
The Wii U VC version of SM64 is NTSC on all English versions as far as I'm aware. The biggest problem with Wii U VC is that it has bad input lag as you can see here: Your best bet is to either play on emulator or inject the NTSC version of Wii VC into the Wii mode on your Wii U.
If you have any Wii points remaining from back when the Wii Shop was available don't bother getting the Wii VC version as I'm almost certain Australia got the PAL version on it for whatever reason.