I resolved this for NES and SNES by splitting the composite output from the consoles and running one side of the console output to the CRT TV and the other side to the Elgato analog adapter. If you have an upscaler, you can use it for recording/streaming output by putting it between the splitter and Elgato without creating any more input lag. This setup adds at most 1 frame of input lag because the console output going to the TV doesn't pass through the Elgato.

Are runs using SD2SNES Pro allowed? It feels like some kind of gray area between emulation and real hardware, I'm just wondering if I can submit runs I do before my v1.2 cart shows up in the mail.

"Less than official or legal hardware" definitely includes unofficial emulators, but I'd submit that a repro cart made the way I'm planning to do it would fall somewhere between the Classic and the "less than official or legal hardware" label. The parts I've got and the process I've set up will result in a clean dump of the Classic rom running on an authentic SHVC-1CA6B-01 cartridge PCB (formerly a Stunt Race FX - GSU chip runs at the same clock speed as the emulated GSU2 the Classic provides for the game). It's all authentic hardware, just... not the Classic. From a hardware/game perspective, the setup I'm going to use for these carts will be exactly the same as it would've been if Nintendo had released the game as originally planned once it was complete.

Notably, I'm not making a case for SD2SNES runs to be accepted. The SD2SNES FPGA implementation of the GSU1 and GSU2 is great, but it's not perfect. I'm suggesting only that a timing differential be figured out to account for the epilepsy filter not existing on authentic SNES hardware so that a standard can be developed for accepting runs made on cartridges running the game as it would've run had Nintendo not made the mistake of stashing the game in the vault for 20+ years.

edit: once I have a production process going and a couple prototypes finished, I'd be willing to provide one to the mods for testing.

Is there any chance that things may change to allow runs on console, possibly as separate leaderboards or with a timing adjustment to correct for the lack of the epilepsy filter? I'm now set up to make repro carts of this game & that would be my only way of running it.

Is the 30 life cheat code allowed in any categories?

New conductive pads in the controller should clear that right up.

Has anyone done comparison runs to determine which timer speed tends to lead to less fireworks?

If your time is above 13 minutes, nobody's going to care.

Why aren't you allowed to get a capture card? If you're using a real SNES with composite output, there's plenty of easycap-like devices that can be found for under 20 USD that'll do the trick.

You could also take the PCB out of the J-cart and put it in a US cart shell, which eliminates any chance of damage to your US console.

More importantly, can someone dump the SMW rom from it and verify it's identical to a cart release?

Someone find me one at MSRP or less, I'll do a run or two on it.

Most points possible, following the rules in the category.

I'm honestly thinking the best way to do this is to just play a normal warpless run (diverting for 1ups), don't die, and get like 600k extra points for lives at the end.

If I'm playing on emulator (which I don't use for SMW any longer, but do use for ALTTP,) I've got a few SNES controllers that I've converted for USB.

That works, thank you. I just want to get the hell off MAME and do this game 'properly.' Next goal, getting my PB below 19:00...

Are we allowed to submit runs using the Insert Coin hacked version of the .nes rom, either via repro cart or FCEUX? The game's the same, the only difference is in the arcade coin drop handling, which is changed to allow the game to be played on NES hardware without coin mechs.

Is the 'insert coin hack' NES version of VS Super Mario Bros allowed for submitted speedruns?

The game itself is unchanged from the arcade version, the only modification is to the coindrop handling (it's set on free play) to allow it to run on NES hardware.