Does 2P require two actual players, or does it just mean playing the game in 2P mode? E.g., would I be allowed to control two ships by myself using two controllers? Or would that end up as a separate category, possibly requiring handcam?

Has to have 2 players. If you would like that alternate category for 1P2C I can create it though.

It can wait until I do a run of it. It's something I'd like to do, but I may not be able to get a satisfactory handcam setup.