diff --git a/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json b/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
index a8d3a0c9..fa93b76a 100644
--- a/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
+++ b/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
@@ -48,7 +48,5 @@
     "ask": []
   },
   "enableAllProjectMcpServers": true,
-  "enabledMcpjsonServers": [
-    "sqlite"
-  ]
+  "enabledMcpjsonServers": ["sqlite"]
 }
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/hooks/useWorksheetState.ts b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/hooks/useWorksheetState.ts
index 6def36ff..86f1679e 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/hooks/useWorksheetState.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/hooks/useWorksheetState.ts
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@ export function useWorksheetState(
 
       if (affectsProblems) {
         newState.seed = Date.now() % 2147483647
-        console.log('[useWorksheetState] Problem settings changed - generated new seed:', newState.seed)
+        console.log(
+          '[useWorksheetState] Problem settings changed - generated new seed:',
+          newState.seed
+        )
       }
 
       console.log('[useWorksheetState] New formState:', {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/validation.ts b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/validation.ts
index cd95423e..dca908a9 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/validation.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/validation.ts
@@ -286,29 +286,36 @@ export function validateWorksheetConfig(formState: WorksheetFormState): Validati
         const subSkill = getSkillById(subSkillId as any)
 
         if (addSkill?.recommendedScaffolding && subSkill?.recommendedScaffolding) {
-          // Merge user's displayRules with skill's recommended scaffolding
-          // User's displayRules take precedence for problemNumbers and cellBorders (layout options)
-          const userDisplayRules: Partial<DisplayRules> = formState.displayRules || {}
+          // Merge user's operator-specific displayRules with skill's recommended scaffolding
+          // User's rules (if set) take precedence over skill's recommendations
+          // Fall back to general displayRules if operator-specific rules don't exist
+          const userAdditionRules: Partial<DisplayRules> =
+            (formState as any).additionDisplayRules || formState.displayRules || {}
+          const userSubtractionRules: Partial<DisplayRules> =
+            (formState as any).subtractionDisplayRules || formState.displayRules || {}
+
+          console.log('[MIXED MODE SCAFFOLDING] User rules:', {
+            additionRules: userAdditionRules,
+            subtractionRules: userSubtractionRules,
+            generalRules: formState.displayRules,
+          })
 
           config = {
             ...baseConfig,
             additionDisplayRules: {
               ...addSkill.recommendedScaffolding,
-              // Override layout options with user's choices
-              problemNumbers:
-                userDisplayRules.problemNumbers ?? addSkill.recommendedScaffolding.problemNumbers,
-              cellBorders:
-                userDisplayRules.cellBorders ?? addSkill.recommendedScaffolding.cellBorders,
+              ...userAdditionRules, // User's custom rules override skill's recommendations
             },
             subtractionDisplayRules: {
               ...subSkill.recommendedScaffolding,
-              // Override layout options with user's choices
-              problemNumbers:
-                userDisplayRules.problemNumbers ?? subSkill.recommendedScaffolding.problemNumbers,
-              cellBorders:
-                userDisplayRules.cellBorders ?? subSkill.recommendedScaffolding.cellBorders,
+              ...userSubtractionRules, // User's custom rules override skill's recommendations
             },
           } as any
+
+          console.log('[MIXED MODE SCAFFOLDING] Final config:', {
+            additionDisplayRules: config.additionDisplayRules,
+            subtractionDisplayRules: config.subtractionDisplayRules,
+          })
         } else {
           console.log('[MIXED MODE SCAFFOLDING] Missing recommendedScaffolding', {
             addSkill: addSkill?.name,