diff --git a/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/ChatContainer.vue b/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/ChatContainer.vue
index 1c59c43..c7f5504 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/ChatContainer.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/ChatContainer.vue
@@ -380,26 +380,34 @@ defineExpose({ selectMode, toggleSelectMode, allCollapsed, collapseAllExceptLast
 // These skip the bounce animation and get a smooth transition instead
 const resolvedUuids = ref(new Set<string>())
 
+// Force scroll to the absolute bottom of the container
+function scrollToBottom() {
+  if (!scrollContainer.value) return
+  const el = scrollContainer.value
+  el.scrollTop = el.scrollHeight
+  // Second pass: content-visibility: auto can cause reflow after initial paint,
+  // so re-scroll after the browser finishes layout
+  requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+    el.scrollTop = el.scrollHeight
+  })
+}
+
 // Scroll to bottom when a new transcript is loaded
 watch(
   () => props.conversation.sessionId,
   async () => {
     await nextTick()
-    if (scrollContainer.value) {
-      scrollContainer.value.scrollTop = scrollContainer.value.scrollHeight
-    }
+    scrollToBottom()
   },
   { immediate: true }
 )
 
-// Auto-scroll to bottom when messages change
+// Auto-scroll to bottom when messages change (every WS update)
 watch(
   () => props.conversation.messages.length,
   async () => {
     await nextTick()
-    if (scrollContainer.value) {
-      scrollContainer.value.scrollTop = scrollContainer.value.scrollHeight
-    }
+    scrollToBottom()
   }
 )
 
@@ -674,7 +682,6 @@ function formatDuration(start: string, end: string): string {
       />
 
       <UserInput
-        :processing="props.processing"
         :terminal-ready="props.terminalReady"
         :voice-transcript="voiceTranscript"
         :is-recording="isRecording"
@@ -999,6 +1006,8 @@ function formatDuration(start: string, end: string): string {
   align-items: flex-start;
   gap: 0.4rem;
   position: relative;
+  content-visibility: auto;
+  contain-intrinsic-size: auto 120px;
 }
 
 .message-wrapper.selected {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/UserInput.vue b/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/UserInput.vue
index 06e9000..c74b035 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/UserInput.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/transcript-debug/UserInput.vue
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { ref, computed, watch, nextTick } from 'vue'
 import VoiceMicButton from './VoiceMicButton.vue'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
-  processing?: boolean
   terminalReady?: boolean | null  // null = no terminal, false = starting, true = ready
   voiceTranscript?: string
   isRecording?: boolean
@@ -25,10 +24,9 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
 
 const input = ref('')
 
-// terminalReady: null = no terminal (show "no terminal"), false = starting, true = ready
-const terminalStarting = computed(() => props.terminalReady === false) // explicitly false, not null
+// terminalReady: null = no terminal, false = starting, true = ready
 const noTerminal = computed(() => props.terminalReady === null)
-const canSend = computed(() => props.terminalReady === true && !props.processing)
+const canSend = computed(() => props.terminalReady === true)
 const isDisabled = computed(() => !input.value.trim() || !canSend.value)
 
 function handleSend() {
@@ -66,24 +64,12 @@ watch(() => props.voiceTranscript, (newText) => {
 
 <template>
   <div class="user-input">
-    <div v-if="terminalStarting" class="processing-bar starting">
-      <span class="processing-dots">
-        <span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span>
-      </span>
-      <span>Starting terminal...</span>
-    </div>
-    <div v-else-if="processing" class="processing-bar">
-      <span class="processing-dots">
-        <span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span>
-      </span>
-      <span>Agent is processing...</span>
-    </div>
     <div class="input-container" :class="{ disabled: !canSend }">
       <textarea
         v-model="input"
         class="input-field"
         :style="{ maxHeight: maxH }"
-        :placeholder="terminalStarting ? 'Starting terminal...' : noTerminal ? 'No terminal — use + to create session' : processing ? 'Wait for agent to finish...' : 'Continue this conversation...'"
+        :placeholder="noTerminal ? 'No terminal — use + to create session' : 'Continue this conversation...'"
         rows="1"
         :disabled="!canSend"
         @keydown="handleKeydown"
@@ -120,40 +106,6 @@ watch(() => props.voiceTranscript, (newText) => {
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
-.processing-bar {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.4rem;
-  padding: 0 0.25rem 0.35rem;
-  font-size: 10px;
-  color: var(--accent);
-}
-
-.processing-bar.starting {
-  color: var(--text-muted, #888);
-}
-
-.processing-dots {
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 3px;
-}
-
-.processing-dots .dot {
-  width: 4px;
-  height: 4px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--accent);
-  animation: pulse-dot 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
-}
-
-.processing-dots .dot:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.15s; }
-.processing-dots .dot:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.3s; }
-
-@keyframes pulse-dot {
-  0%, 80%, 100% { opacity: 0.3; transform: scale(0.8); }
-  40% { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
-}
-
 .input-container {
   display: flex;
   align-items: flex-end;