Just as an update to anyone else watching this thread the AVS is now allowed - just in time for the next run of them!
I think Retrogaming2084 already updated the rules but any confusion was from me - I couldn't remember the exact rules when I brought it up. Damage boosts are allowed but no crits and no cave skip like freeland said. Sort of in between the super old rules (the ones that would disallow any boosting) and before all the new tech was found. Koops submitted a run already!
I'm running this game and was interesting in running it on actual hardware instead of the emulator I am using (some inputs are getting eaten). I saw that NT mini is allowed but the AVS isn't, any specific reason? AVS seems like a way better option money-wise as opposed to the NT mini which is getting resold for a higher mark up on eBay. Thanks!