fix(models): validate_requested_model falls back to curated catalog when live API omits model

When live /v1/models responds but omits a model that exists in the
curated static catalog, validate_requested_model now accepts it with
a note instead of rejecting. This covers the /model slash-command path
(the picker path was already fixed in the parent commit).

Addresses review feedback from potatogim on #46857.

hermes_cli/models.py

@@ -3939,6 +3939,28 @@ def validate_requested_model(
             if suggestions:
                 suggestion_text = "\n  Similar models: " + ", ".join(f"`{s}`" for s in suggestions)
 
+            # Model not in live /v1/models — check the curated catalog
+            # before rejecting.  Providers may omit models from their live
+            # listing that are still valid (stale cache, partial rollout,
+            # gated previews).  If the curated list has it, accept with a
+            # note.  (#46850)
+            try:
+                curated = provider_model_ids(normalized)
+            except Exception:
+                curated = []
+            if curated:
+                curated_lower = {m.lower(): m for m in curated}
+                if requested_for_lookup.lower() in curated_lower:
+                    return {
+                        "accepted": True,
+                        "persist": True,
+                        "recognized": True,
+                        "message": (
+                            f"Note: `{requested}` was not found in the live /v1/models listing "
+                            f"but exists in the curated catalog — accepted."
+                        ),
+                    }
+
         return {
             "accepted": False,
             "persist": False,

tests/hermes_cli/test_provider_live_curated_merge.py

@@ -111,3 +111,55 @@ class TestGenericProviderLiveCuratedMerge:
             result = provider_model_ids("zai")
 
         assert result == curated
+
+
+class TestValidateRequestedModelCuratedFallback:
+    """validate_requested_model falls back to curated catalog when live API omits model."""
+
+    def test_model_in_curated_but_not_live_is_accepted(self):
+        """When live /v1/models omits a model that exists in the curated
+        catalog, validate_requested_model should accept it with a note."""
+        from hermes_cli.models import validate_requested_model
+
+        # Live API returns only glm-5.1, but curated has glm-5.2
+        live_models = ["glm-5.1"]
+        curated = ["glm-5.2", "glm-5.1", "glm-5", "glm-4.5"]
+
+        with (
+            patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", return_value=live_models),
+            patch("hermes_cli.models.provider_model_ids", return_value=curated),
+        ):
+            result = validate_requested_model("glm-5.2", "zai", api_key="dummy")
+
+        assert result["accepted"] is True
+        assert result["recognized"] is True
+        assert result["message"] is not None
+        assert "curated catalog" in result["message"]
+
+    def test_model_not_in_curated_nor_live_is_rejected(self):
+        """When a model is in neither live nor curated, it should be rejected."""
+        from hermes_cli.models import validate_requested_model
+
+        live_models = ["glm-5.1"]
+        curated = ["glm-5.1", "glm-5", "glm-4.5"]
+
+        with (
+            patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", return_value=live_models),
+            patch("hermes_cli.models.provider_model_ids", return_value=curated),
+        ):
+            result = validate_requested_model("nonexistent-model", "zai", api_key="dummy")
+
+        assert result["accepted"] is False
+
+    def test_model_in_live_is_accepted_without_curated_check(self):
+        """When the model is in the live API, it should be accepted directly."""
+        from hermes_cli.models import validate_requested_model
+
+        live_models = ["glm-5.1", "glm-5"]
+
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", return_value=live_models):
+            result = validate_requested_model("glm-5.1", "zai", api_key="dummy")
+
+        assert result["accepted"] is True
+        assert result["recognized"] is True
+        assert result["message"] is None