Fix onboarding loading gate for inactive subscriptions

backend/app.py

@@ -48,13 +48,6 @@ load_dotenv(backend_dir / '.env')  # backend/.env
 load_dotenv(project_root / '.env')  # root .env (fallback)
 load_dotenv()  # CWD .env (fallback)
 
-PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE = os.getenv("PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE", "false").lower() in {
-    "1",
-    "true",
-    "yes",
-    "on",
-}
-
 # Set up clean logging for end users
 from logging_config import setup_clean_logging
 setup_clean_logging()
@@ -190,9 +183,7 @@ rate_limiter = RateLimiter(window_seconds=60, max_requests=200)
 frontend_serving = FrontendServing(app)
 router_manager = RouterManager(app)
 
-onboarding_manager = None
-if not PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE:
-    onboarding_manager = OnboardingManager(app)
+onboarding_manager = OnboardingManager(app)
 
 # Middleware Order (FastAPI executes in REVERSE order of registration - LIFO):
 # Registration order:  1. Monitoring  2. Rate Limit  3. API Key Injection
@@ -264,14 +255,7 @@ async def router_status():
 # Onboarding management endpoints
 @app.get("/api/onboarding/status")
 async def onboarding_status():
-    """Get onboarding manager status (or demo-mode disabled state)."""
-    if PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE:
-        return {
-            "enabled": False,
-            "status": "disabled",
-            "message": "Onboarding is disabled for podcast-only demo mode.",
-            "demo_mode": "podcast_only",
-        }
+    """Get onboarding manager status."""
     return onboarding_manager.get_onboarding_status()
 
 # Include routers using modular utilities

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -280,10 +280,11 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
     );
   }
 
-  // Loading state - only wait for onboarding init, not subscription check
-  // Subscription check is non-blocking and happens in background
-  const waitingForOnboardingInit = loading || !data;
-  if (loading || waitingForOnboardingInit) {
+  // Only block on onboarding initialization once we know the user has an active subscription.
+  // This allows no-subscription/inactive flows to continue even when onboarding data is still null.
+  const isActiveSubscriber = Boolean(subscription && subscription.active && subscription.plan !== 'none');
+  const waitingForOnboardingInit = isActiveSubscriber && (loading || !data);
+  if (waitingForOnboardingInit) {
     return (
       <Box
         display="flex"
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
       >
         <CircularProgress size={60} />
         <Typography variant="h6" color="textSecondary">
-          {subscriptionLoading ? 'Checking subscription...' : 'Preparing your workspace...'}
+          Preparing your workspace...
         </Typography>
       </Box>
     );