Same workload. Two architectures.
Traditional LLM workflow
Cost scales linearly with query volume.
high $ / queryat scale
Truth Unit workflow
Build cost amortizes across all queries that touch the unit.
3–5× cheaperat scale, stable domain
Honest caveats: break-even ≈ N=770 queries (below that, LLM-only is cheaper). Per-query path adds J(n) traversal + settlement overhead, not ~0 — J(n) traversal IS the supersession traversal (UOM §4.2, clauses 2–3), same code, no new cost. Ratio compresses toward 2× in volatile-precedent domains (US constitutional case law). Asymptote ≈ 4.5× under realistic assumptions. See pressure-test-log.md Days 5, 10.