Just to preface, I don't care too much, these are nothing more then a minor nuisance, if there are reasons why these shouldn't be changed, I have nothing wrong with leaving it the way it is.

1. Allow runners to create a run over multiple sittings.

It's a long category, and the potential for real-life interruptions can cause significant loss of time.

Although allowing this could lead to an easy and possibly undetectable splicing method.

2. Allow changing difficulty throughout the run. Everything would still need to be completed on Easy, but there are multiple occurrences where the exploration point in a level is difficult to reach in the hardest difficulty.

(If you want one level in particular the bartender fight collectable is very RNG heavy)

On the other hand, It provides an additional challenge so I see nothing wrong with keeping it.

1. No, keeping it single-segment is very important for the run.

2. Yes, I agree with this. Really we should change the wording of the difficulty to say that "Each level must be beaten on <set difficulty> at least once." (where it matters). That way, as long as you collect the difficulty points, it doesn't matter.