Ok cool, so here's some words and stuff:
Much of my issue with a lot of this comes from the fact that shit hasn't been discovered. As a general statement as to why I still lean against a lot of these optimization is that it is questionable. For Hot Rod usage, for stat boosts, for Catbag, whatever the case may be, these changes are the equivalent of rules and how unclear they may be. In the case of unclear rules, you either regulate and keep shit even or you move forward.
Here's a fun thought: what if splitting and rules shit isn't contributing to loss of runners, but rather the idea that someone might come along and just decide something is legal now. "No one ever said we can't CatBAG/Hot Rod!" Yeah, no one ever said a lot of shit. That's the problem. So I'll go through my onion in layers, but only peel quick.

Hotrod is something that is unlocked. Even though classic and story are separate in "progress" they are the same in file. NG+ is a moniker that related to file, not progress. So I think it fits the purview just fine. Switching to a trick is fine and always will be. Switching to a trick that requires you to play the game to unlock is trash. That file ain't fresh.

Stat boosting is lame and garbage. "Hah! Those early runners are so dumb! They didn't even think of this! I'm a genius and not being dumb about this." There is no discovery of new tricks or new route. This is an unfair advantage by way of omission and incomplete rulesets. Same for Hot Rod, but at least you are applying a tool, not just getting a boost for literally actually free.

CatBag is a glitch and an exploit and it works in a clever way. It was discovered. It is fine. Note how I'm cool with this and not Hot Rod.

Solution: We should draft a very complete ruleset that doesn't suck and specify precisely what is allowed and not. And Hotrod, if legal, should be explicitly mentioned.

Personal opinion:
Hot Rod is NG+, along with assigning any trick that must be unlocked. It should be marked but not separated. Stat boosting sucks. It serves only to make a mockery of the idea of when the run starts. CatBag.is dumb but cool with me and although it's mad optimal and can really change times, it was found in the same.way any other glitch is found, so of course it is Any%.

I'm not gonna lie, I am a bit out of practice. I have not ran in a bit. I'm not up to date on the climate of opinions, but hey at least I tried. Hahah