diff --git a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/components/searchModal.tsx b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/components/searchModal.tsx
index 11c7dba..81c2177 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/components/searchModal.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/components/searchModal.tsx
@@ -443,20 +443,20 @@ export default function SearchModal({
                 {advanced && (
                   <div className="space-y-2">
                     <select
-                      key={parentsRevision} // NEW: force remount to refresh options
+                      key={parentsRevision}
                       value={parentId ?? ''}
                       onChange={e => setParentId(e.target.value ? Number(e.target.value) : undefined)}
                       className="w-full rounded-md bg-[#173456] border border-blue-800 text-xs text-blue-100 px-2 py-2 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:border-blue-500"
-                      title={addDisabledReason || undefined} // NEW
+                      title={addDisabledReason || undefined}
                     >
                       <option value="">(Auto referral / root)</option>
                       {potentialParents.map(p => {
                         const used = parentUsage.get(p.id) || 0
                         const isRoot = (p.level ?? 0) === 0
-                        const full = !isRoot && used >= 5
+                        const full = (!isRoot && used >= 5) || (!!policyMaxDepth && policyMaxDepth > 0 && p.level >= policyMaxDepth) // CHANGED
                         const rem = !policyMaxDepth || policyMaxDepth <= 0 ? '∞' : Math.max(0, policyMaxDepth - p.level)
                         return (
-                          <option key={p.id} value={p.id} disabled={full}>
+                          <option key={p.id} value={p.id} disabled={full} title={full ? 'Parent full or at policy depth' : undefined}>
                             {p.name} • L{p.level} • Slots {isRoot ? `${used} (root ∞)` : `${used}/5`} • Rem levels: {rem}
                           </option>
                         )
@@ -482,6 +482,9 @@ export default function SearchModal({
                   />
                   Fallback to root if referral parent not in matrix
                 </label>
+                <p className="text-[11px] text-blue-300">
+                  If the referrer is outside the matrix, the user is placed under root; enabling fallback may mark the user as rogue.
+                </p>
 
                 {addError && <div className="text-xs text-red-400">{addError}</div>}
                 {addSuccess && <div className="text-xs text-green-400">{addSuccess}</div>}
diff --git a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/page.tsx
index 79ffbef..b4a6c63 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/detail/page.tsx
@@ -195,11 +195,14 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
     [users, resolvedRootUserId]
   )
 
-  // NEW: immediate children count for root (unlimited capacity display)
-  const rootChildrenCount = useMemo(() => {
-    if (!rootNode) return 0
-    return (childrenMap.get(rootNode.id) || []).length
-  }, [rootNode, childrenMap])
+  const rootChildren = useMemo(() => rootNode ? (childrenMap.get(rootNode.id) || []) : [], [rootNode, childrenMap])
+  const rootChildrenCount = useMemo(() => rootChildren.length, [rootChildren])
+  const displayedRootSlots = useMemo(() =>
+    rootChildren.filter(c => {
+      const pos = Number((c as any).position ?? -1)
+      return pos >= 1 && pos <= 5
+    }).length
+  , [rootChildren])
 
   // Rogue count if flags exist
   const rogueCount = useMemo(
@@ -285,12 +288,12 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
           )}
           {isRoot && (
             <span className="ml-auto text-[10px] text-gray-500">
-              {children.length} children (Unlimited)
+              Unlimited; positions numbered sequentially
             </span>
           )}
           {!isRoot && hasChildren && (
             <span className="ml-auto text-[10px] text-gray-500">
-              {children.length}/5
+              {children.length}/5 (slots 1–5)
             </span>
           )}
         </div>
@@ -342,6 +345,32 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
   // const isUnlimited = !serverMaxDepth || serverMaxDepth <= 0;
   const isUnlimited = policyMaxDepth == null || policyMaxDepth <= 0 // NEW
 
+  const policyDepth = (policyMaxDepth && policyMaxDepth > 0) ? policyMaxDepth : null
+  const perLevelCounts = useMemo(() => {
+    const m = new Map<number, number>()
+    users.forEach(u => {
+      if (u.level != null && u.level >= 0) {
+        m.set(u.level, (m.get(u.level) || 0) + 1)
+      }
+    })
+    return m
+  }, [users])
+  const totalNonRoot = useMemo(() => users.filter(u => (u.level ?? 0) > 0).length, [users])
+  const fillMetrics = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!policyDepth) return { label: 'N/A (unlimited policy)', highestFull: 'N/A' }
+    let capacitySum = 0
+    let highestFullLevel: number | null = null
+    for (let k = 1; k <= policyDepth; k++) {
+      const cap = Math.pow(5, k)
+      capacitySum += cap
+      const lvlCount = perLevelCounts.get(k) || 0
+      if (lvlCount >= cap) highestFullLevel = k
+    }
+    if (capacitySum === 0) return { label: 'N/A', highestFull: 'N/A' }
+    const pct = Math.round((totalNonRoot / capacitySum) * 100 * 100) / 100
+    return { label: `${pct}%`, highestFull: highestFullLevel == null ? 'None' : `L${highestFullLevel}` }
+  }, [policyDepth, perLevelCounts, totalNonRoot])
+
   return (
     <PageLayout>
       {/* Smooth refresh overlay */}
@@ -372,15 +401,28 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
                   Top node: <span className="font-semibold text-blue-900">{topNodeEmail}</span>
                 </p>
                 <div className="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-                  {/* CHANGED: capacity clarification */}
                   <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-gray-800">
-                    Children/node: non‑root 5, root unlimited
+                    Root: unlimited immediate children (sequential positions)
+                  </span>
+                  <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-gray-800">
+                    Non-root: 5 children (positions 1–5)
                   </span>
                   <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-blue-50 border border-blue-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-blue-900">
-                    Max depth: {isUnlimited ? 'Unlimited' : policyMaxDepth}
+                    Policy depth (DB): {isUnlimited ? 'Unlimited' : policyMaxDepth}
+                  </span>
+                  <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-purple-50 border border-purple-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-purple-900">
+                    Fetch depth (client slice): {DEFAULT_FETCH_DEPTH}
+                  </span>
+                  {serverMaxDepth != null && (
+                    <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-amber-50 border border-amber-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-amber-800">
+                      Server-reported max depth: {serverMaxDepth}
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                  <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-gray-800">
+                    Root children: {rootChildrenCount} (unlimited)
                   </span>
                   <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-gray-800">
-                    Root children: {rootChildrenCount} (Unlimited)
+                    Displayed slots under root (positions 1–5): {displayedRootSlots}/5
                   </span>
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -426,7 +468,7 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
           </div>
 
           {/* Small stats (CHANGED wording) */}
-          <div className="mb-8 grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
+          <div className="mb-8 grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-4 gap-6">
             <div className="rounded-xl border border-gray-100 bg-white p-5 shadow">
               <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Total users fetched</div>
               <div className="text-xl font-semibold text-blue-900">{users.length}</div>
@@ -443,6 +485,14 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
               <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Policy Max Depth</div>
               <div className="text-xl font-semibold text-blue-900">{isUnlimited ? 'Unlimited' : policyMaxDepth}</div>
             </div>
+            <div className="rounded-xl border border-gray-100 bg-white p-5 shadow">
+              <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Fill %</div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-semibold text-blue-900">{fillMetrics.label}</div>
+            </div>
+            <div className="rounded-xl border border-gray-100 bg-white p-5 shadow">
+              <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Highest full level</div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-semibold text-blue-900">{fillMetrics.highestFull}</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
 
           {/* Unlimited hierarchical tree (replaces dynamic levels + grouped level list) */}
@@ -463,6 +513,14 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
             </div>
           </div>
 
+          {/* Vacancies placeholder */}
+          <div className="rounded-2xl bg-white border border-dashed border-blue-200 shadow-sm p-6 mb-8">
+            <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold text-blue-900 mb-2">Vacancies</h3>
+            <p className="text-sm text-blue-700">
+              Pending backend wiring to MatrixController.listVacancies. This section will surface empty slots and allow reassignment.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Add Users Modal */}
           <SearchModal
             open={open}
@@ -472,7 +530,7 @@ export default function MatrixDetailPage() {
             matrixId={matrixId}
             topNodeEmail={topNodeEmail}
             existingUsers={users}
-            policyMaxDepth={policyMaxDepth} // CHANGED: pass real policy max depth
+            policyMaxDepth={policyMaxDepth}
             onAdd={(u) => { addToMatrix(u) }}
           />
         </div>
diff --git a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/page.tsx
index a61820a..c9ca9e4 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/matrix-management/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/matrix-management/page.tsx
@@ -62,8 +62,9 @@ export default function MatrixManagementPage() {
   const [forcePrompt, setForcePrompt] = useState<{ name: string; email: string } | null>(null)
   const [createSuccess, setCreateSuccess] = useState<{ name: string; email: string } | null>(null)
 
-  const [policyFilter, setPolicyFilter] = useState<'unlimited'|'five'>('unlimited') // NEW
-  const [sortByUsers, setSortByUsers] = useState<'asc'|'desc'>('desc') // NEW
+  const [policyFilter, setPolicyFilter] = useState<'all'|'unlimited'|'five'>('all') // CHANGED
+  const [sortByUsers, setSortByUsers] = useState<'asc'|'desc'>('desc')
+  const [sortByPolicy, setSortByPolicy] = useState<'none'|'asc'|'desc'>('none') // NEW
   const [mutatingId, setMutatingId] = useState<string | null>(null) // NEW
 
   const loadStats = async () => {
@@ -220,11 +221,20 @@ export default function MatrixManagementPage() {
     let list = [...matrices]
     list = list.filter(m => {
       const unlimited = !m.policyMaxDepth || m.policyMaxDepth <= 0
+      if (policyFilter === 'all') return true
       return policyFilter === 'unlimited' ? unlimited : (!unlimited && m.policyMaxDepth === 5)
     })
-    list.sort((a,b) => sortByUsers === 'asc' ? (a.usersCount - b.usersCount) : (b.usersCount - a.usersCount))
+    list.sort((a,b) => {
+      if (sortByPolicy !== 'none') {
+        const pa = (!a.policyMaxDepth || a.policyMaxDepth <= 0) ? Infinity : a.policyMaxDepth
+        const pb = (!b.policyMaxDepth || b.policyMaxDepth <= 0) ? Infinity : b.policyMaxDepth
+        const diff = sortByPolicy === 'asc' ? pa - pb : pb - pa
+        if (diff !== 0) return diff
+      }
+      return sortByUsers === 'asc' ? (a.usersCount - b.usersCount) : (b.usersCount - a.usersCount)
+    })
     return list
-  }, [matrices, policyFilter, sortByUsers])
+  }, [matrices, policyFilter, sortByUsers, sortByPolicy])
 
   const StatCard = ({
     icon: Icon,
@@ -284,6 +294,28 @@ export default function MatrixManagementPage() {
             </div>
           </header>
 
+          {/* Filters */}
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 mb-6">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-blue-900">
+              <span className="font-semibold">Policy filter:</span>
+              <button onClick={() => setPolicyFilter('all')} className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-full border text-xs ${policyFilter==='all'?'bg-blue-900 text-white':'border-blue-200 text-blue-800'}`}>All</button>
+              <button onClick={() => setPolicyFilter('unlimited')} className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-full border text-xs ${policyFilter==='unlimited'?'bg-blue-900 text-white':'border-blue-200 text-blue-800'}`}>Unlimited</button>
+              <button onClick={() => setPolicyFilter('five')} className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-full border text-xs ${policyFilter==='five'?'bg-blue-900 text-white':'border-blue-200 text-blue-800'}`}>Depth 5</button>
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-blue-900">
+              <span className="font-semibold">Sort:</span>
+              <select value={sortByPolicy} onChange={e => setSortByPolicy(e.target.value as any)} className="border rounded px-2 py-1">
+                <option value="none">None</option>
+                <option value="asc">Policy ↑</option>
+                <option value="desc">Policy ↓</option>
+              </select>
+              <select value={sortByUsers} onChange={e => setSortByUsers(e.target.value as any)} className="border rounded px-2 py-1">
+                <option value="desc">Users ↓</option>
+                <option value="asc">Users ↑</option>
+              </select>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Error banner for stats */}
           {statsError && (
             <div className="mb-6 rounded-md border border-red-200 bg-red-50 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-red-700">
@@ -321,9 +353,12 @@ export default function MatrixManagementPage() {
                       <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold text-blue-900">{m.name}</h3>
                       <StatusBadge status={m.status} />
                     </div>
-                    <div className="mt-2">
-                      <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-blue-50 border border-blue-200 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs text-blue-900">
-                        Max depth: {(!m.policyMaxDepth || m.policyMaxDepth <= 0) ? 'Unlimited' : m.policyMaxDepth}
+                    <div className="mt-2 flex flex-wrap gap-2 text-xs">
+                      <span className={`inline-flex items-center rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 border ${m.status==='inactive'?'border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 text-gray-500':'border-blue-200 bg-blue-50 text-blue-900'}`}>
+                        Policy: {(!m.policyMaxDepth || m.policyMaxDepth <= 0) ? 'Unlimited' : m.policyMaxDepth}
+                      </span>
+                      <span className={`inline-flex items-center rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 border ${m.status==='inactive'?'border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 text-gray-500':'border-gray-200 bg-gray-100 text-gray-800'}`}>
+                        Root: unlimited immediate children (sequential), non-root: 5 children (positions 1–5)
                       </span>
                     </div>
                     <div className="mt-4 grid grid-cols-1 gap-3 text-sm text-gray-700">
@@ -356,6 +391,9 @@ export default function MatrixManagementPage() {
                           ? (m.status === 'active' ? 'Deactivating…' : 'Activating…')
                           : (m.status === 'active' ? 'Deactivate' : 'Activate')}
                       </button>
+                      <span className="text-[11px] text-gray-500">
+                        State change will affect add/remove operations.
+                      </span>
                       <button
                         className="text-sm font-medium text-blue-900 hover:text-blue-700"
                         onClick={() => {
diff --git a/src/app/personal-matrix/hooks/getStats.ts b/src/app/personal-matrix/hooks/getStats.ts
index d4dc4f4..d6f9dac 100644
--- a/src/app/personal-matrix/hooks/getStats.ts
+++ b/src/app/personal-matrix/hooks/getStats.ts
@@ -203,9 +203,14 @@ export function usePersonalMatrixOverview(matrixId?: string | number) {
       .then(async r => {
         const ct = r.headers.get('content-type') || ''
         console.log('[usePersonalMatrixOverview] Status:', r.status, 'CT:', ct)
-        if (!r.ok || !ct.includes('application/json')) {
+        const isJson = ct.includes('application/json')
+        if (!r.ok) {
+          const body = isJson ? await r.json().catch(() => ({})) : await r.text().catch(() => '')
+          const msg = isJson ? (body?.message || JSON.stringify(body) || 'Request failed') : (String(body || '').slice(0, 200) || 'Request failed')
+          throw new Error(`Request failed: ${r.status} ${msg}`)
+        }
+        if (!isJson) {
           const txt = await r.text().catch(() => '')
-          console.warn('[usePersonalMatrixOverview] Non-JSON or error body:', txt.slice(0, 200))
           throw new Error(`Request failed: ${r.status} ${txt.slice(0, 120)}`)
         }
         const json = await r.json()