With the new glitch that lets you freeze Harry and Marv, I'm guessing that should be a separate category than the usual runs where you actually have to play the game.

You could have a 'glitchless' category, although some runs exploit the AI by walking in and out of the door repeatedly, so is that a glitch? Given that it's all the same time and there's only about 3 runs on the board that are glitchless, I don't see much benefit to doing that personally.

Just saying that outright freezing the opponents is completely different than taking advantage of poorly designed AI. In a chasing-type game (such as Pac Man) where there is no chase, and only a time limit to stop you, there's nothing left to do.

Either way, you are still "running" any%, the time is exactly the same. No one is forced to do glitches, but I don't believe choosing to not use them for arbitrary reasons warrants its own category.

I think there is the not that what he meaned. Second category is the one, where run ends on last button input if you winned the game (if no button press and you loose - it not counts) - these rules is quite similar to TAS rules - or either on moment when both Harry and Marv gets stuck. So if you managed to find special spot or freeze Harry and Marv faster - you will get lower time.
In that category, if use input frame stop, to make time count easier, recommended usage of special program what shows button inputs, or just showing both the game and button presses on your joystick with camera outside.
Maybe there may be third category (Game Ower%), but...

Something like a "stuck%" ? You're last split is when the second Wet Bandit gets stuck in the wall? It would be highly dependent on Marv's RNG but could be a Misc. category I guess. I'm actually curious to try a couple times.

I'd give it a go too

I didnt have plans to ever touch this cart again, but with another category...

yes. With new category there will be sense to even try speedrunning this game. In old category literally evereone can make new WR, and making time better is nearly impossible, if not comepletely impossible. This also can be applied to "Home Alone 1 Genesis" because it also have simular glitch of freezing Wet Bandits and waiting ± 20 minutes.

It seems like the new misc category that makes the most sense is keeping the glitch, but stop the timer the moment the last wet bandit gets frozen. Which becomes a bit of an RNG race - but could have competition now and maybe lead to different strats.

Just tried a quick "wet%" run. Forgot to record on a 1:30.42 run and did a 1:32.35.
It's highly dependent on RNG but I guess we could get an optimized Marv movement. Still fun!

Is it possible to do a movie%, you'd need to get the same traps from the movie as quickly as possible

Bump, holidays 2021 are craving for a new category