diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index f17eeecfc..70cbc55f3 100755
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -3271,7 +3271,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
             print("  To start the gateway:")
             print("    python cli.py --gateway")
             print()
-            print("  Configuration file: ~/.hermes/gateway.json")
+            print("  Configuration file: ~/.hermes/config.yaml")
             print()
             
         except Exception as e:
@@ -3281,7 +3281,7 @@ class HermesCLI:
             print("    1. Set environment variables:")
             print("       TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_token")
             print("       DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN=your_token")
-            print("    2. Or create ~/.hermes/gateway.json")
+            print("    2. Or configure settings in ~/.hermes/config.yaml")
             print()
     
     def process_command(self, command: str) -> bool:
diff --git a/gateway/config.py b/gateway/config.py
index c99756c35..55a811aa8 100644
--- a/gateway/config.py
+++ b/gateway/config.py
@@ -350,65 +350,73 @@ class GatewayConfig:
 def load_gateway_config() -> GatewayConfig:
     """
     Load gateway configuration from multiple sources.
-    
+
     Priority (highest to lowest):
     1. Environment variables
-    2. ~/.hermes/gateway.json
-    3. cli-config.yaml gateway section
-    4. Defaults
+    2. ~/.hermes/config.yaml (primary user-facing config)
+    3. ~/.hermes/gateway.json (legacy — provides defaults under config.yaml)
+    4. Built-in defaults
     """
-    config = GatewayConfig()
-    
-    # Try loading from ~/.hermes/gateway.json
     _home = get_hermes_home()
-    gateway_config_path = _home / "gateway.json"
-    if gateway_config_path.exists():
-        try:
-            with open(gateway_config_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-                data = json.load(f)
-                config = GatewayConfig.from_dict(data)
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[gateway] Warning: Failed to load {gateway_config_path}: {e}")
+    gw_data: dict = {}
 
-    # Bridge session_reset from config.yaml (the user-facing config file)
-    # into the gateway config. config.yaml takes precedence over gateway.json
-    # for session reset policy since that's where hermes setup writes it.
+    # Legacy fallback: gateway.json provides the base layer.
+    # config.yaml keys always win when both specify the same setting.
+    gateway_json_path = _home / "gateway.json"
+    if gateway_json_path.exists():
+        try:
+            with open(gateway_json_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                gw_data = json.load(f) or {}
+            logger.info(
+                "Loaded legacy %s — consider moving settings to config.yaml",
+                gateway_json_path,
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Failed to load %s: %s", gateway_json_path, e)
+
+    # Primary source: config.yaml
     try:
         import yaml
         config_yaml_path = _home / "config.yaml"
         if config_yaml_path.exists():
             with open(config_yaml_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 yaml_cfg = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+
+            # Map config.yaml keys → GatewayConfig.from_dict() schema.
+            # Each key overwrites whatever gateway.json may have set.
             sr = yaml_cfg.get("session_reset")
             if sr and isinstance(sr, dict):
-                config.default_reset_policy = SessionResetPolicy.from_dict(sr)
+                gw_data["default_reset_policy"] = sr
 
-            # Bridge quick commands from config.yaml into gateway runtime config.
-            # config.yaml is the user-facing config source, so when present it
-            # should override gateway.json for this setting.
             qc = yaml_cfg.get("quick_commands")
             if qc is not None:
                 if isinstance(qc, dict):
-                    config.quick_commands = qc
+                    gw_data["quick_commands"] = qc
                 else:
-                    logger.warning("Ignoring invalid quick_commands in config.yaml (expected mapping, got %s)", type(qc).__name__)
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Ignoring invalid quick_commands in config.yaml "
+                        "(expected mapping, got %s)",
+                        type(qc).__name__,
+                    )
 
-            # Bridge STT enable/disable from config.yaml into gateway runtime.
-            # This keeps the gateway aligned with the user-facing config source.
             stt_cfg = yaml_cfg.get("stt")
-            if isinstance(stt_cfg, dict) and "enabled" in stt_cfg:
-                config.stt_enabled = _coerce_bool(stt_cfg.get("enabled"), True)
+            if isinstance(stt_cfg, dict):
+                gw_data["stt"] = stt_cfg
 
-            # Bridge group session isolation from config.yaml into gateway runtime.
-            # Secure default is per-user isolation in shared chats.
             if "group_sessions_per_user" in yaml_cfg:
-                config.group_sessions_per_user = _coerce_bool(
-                    yaml_cfg.get("group_sessions_per_user"),
-                    True,
-                )
+                gw_data["group_sessions_per_user"] = yaml_cfg["group_sessions_per_user"]
 
-            # Bridge discord settings from config.yaml to env vars
-            # (env vars take precedence — only set if not already defined)
+            streaming_cfg = yaml_cfg.get("streaming")
+            if isinstance(streaming_cfg, dict):
+                gw_data["streaming"] = streaming_cfg
+
+            if "reset_triggers" in yaml_cfg:
+                gw_data["reset_triggers"] = yaml_cfg["reset_triggers"]
+
+            if "always_log_local" in yaml_cfg:
+                gw_data["always_log_local"] = yaml_cfg["always_log_local"]
+
+            # Discord settings → env vars (env vars take precedence)
             discord_cfg = yaml_cfg.get("discord", {})
             if isinstance(discord_cfg, dict):
                 if "require_mention" in discord_cfg and not os.getenv("DISCORD_REQUIRE_MENTION"):
@@ -430,6 +438,8 @@ def load_gateway_config() -> GatewayConfig:
     except Exception:
         pass
 
+    config = GatewayConfig.from_dict(gw_data)
+
     # Override with environment variables
     _apply_env_overrides(config)
     
@@ -680,10 +690,4 @@ def _apply_env_overrides(config: GatewayConfig) -> None:
             pass
 
 
-def save_gateway_config(config: GatewayConfig) -> None:
-    """Save gateway configuration to ~/.hermes/gateway.json."""
-    gateway_config_path = get_hermes_home() / "gateway.json"
-    gateway_config_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    
-    with open(gateway_config_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-        json.dump(config.to_dict(), f, indent=2)
+
diff --git a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
index 978c800f3..5a3c80630 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
@@ -414,7 +414,10 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                     text=formatted,
                     parse_mode=ParseMode.MARKDOWN_V2,
                 )
-            except Exception:
+            except Exception as fmt_err:
+                # "Message is not modified" is a no-op, not an error
+                if "not modified" in str(fmt_err).lower():
+                    return SendResult(success=True, message_id=message_id)
                 # Fallback: retry without markdown formatting
                 await self._bot.edit_message_text(
                     chat_id=int(chat_id),
@@ -423,6 +426,32 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                 )
             return SendResult(success=True, message_id=message_id)
         except Exception as e:
+            err_str = str(e).lower()
+            # "Message is not modified" — content identical, treat as success
+            if "not modified" in err_str:
+                return SendResult(success=True, message_id=message_id)
+            # Flood control / RetryAfter — back off and retry once
+            retry_after = getattr(e, "retry_after", None)
+            if retry_after is not None or "retry after" in err_str:
+                wait = retry_after if retry_after else 1.0
+                logger.warning(
+                    "[%s] Telegram flood control, waiting %.1fs",
+                    self.name, wait,
+                )
+                await asyncio.sleep(wait)
+                try:
+                    await self._bot.edit_message_text(
+                        chat_id=int(chat_id),
+                        message_id=int(message_id),
+                        text=content,
+                    )
+                    return SendResult(success=True, message_id=message_id)
+                except Exception as retry_err:
+                    logger.error(
+                        "[%s] Edit retry failed after flood wait: %s",
+                        self.name, retry_err,
+                    )
+                    return SendResult(success=False, error=str(retry_err))
             logger.error(
                 "[%s] Failed to edit Telegram message %s: %s",
                 self.name,
diff --git a/gateway/stream_consumer.py b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
index 42d9dd70f..1b264c534 100644
--- a/gateway/stream_consumer.py
+++ b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class GatewayStreamConsumer:
         self._already_sent = False
         self._edit_supported = True  # Disabled on first edit failure (Signal/Email/HA)
         self._last_edit_time = 0.0
+        self._last_sent_text = ""   # Track last-sent text to skip redundant edits
 
     @property
     def already_sent(self) -> bool:
@@ -141,6 +142,9 @@ class GatewayStreamConsumer:
         try:
             if self._message_id is not None:
                 if self._edit_supported:
+                    # Skip if text is identical to what we last sent
+                    if text == self._last_sent_text:
+                        return
                     # Edit existing message
                     result = await self.adapter.edit_message(
                         chat_id=self.chat_id,
@@ -149,6 +153,7 @@ class GatewayStreamConsumer:
                     )
                     if result.success:
                         self._already_sent = True
+                        self._last_sent_text = text
                     else:
                         # Edit not supported by this adapter — stop streaming,
                         # let the normal send path handle the final response.
@@ -170,6 +175,7 @@ class GatewayStreamConsumer:
                 if result.success and result.message_id:
                     self._message_id = result.message_id
                     self._already_sent = True
+                    self._last_sent_text = text
                 else:
                     # Initial send failed — disable streaming for this session
                     self._edit_supported = False
diff --git a/tools/send_message_tool.py b/tools/send_message_tool.py
index bd25e1dbc..3ebd6c5b7 100644
--- a/tools/send_message_tool.py
+++ b/tools/send_message_tool.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def _handle_send(args):
 
     pconfig = config.platforms.get(platform)
     if not pconfig or not pconfig.enabled:
-        return json.dumps({"error": f"Platform '{platform_name}' is not configured. Set up credentials in ~/.hermes/gateway.json or environment variables."})
+        return json.dumps({"error": f"Platform '{platform_name}' is not configured. Set up credentials in ~/.hermes/config.yaml or environment variables."})
 
     from gateway.platforms.base import BasePlatformAdapter