diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4d2055e..79309c1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ Each scrobble becomes an `fm.teal.alpha.feed.play` record with:
 - **trackName**: The name of the track
 - **artists**: Array of artist objects (requires `artistName`, optional `artistMbId` for Last.fm)
 - **playedTime**: ISO 8601 timestamp of when you listened
-- **submissionClientAgent**: Identifies this importer (`malachite/v0.7.0`)
+- **submissionClientAgent**: Identifies this importer (`malachite/v0.7.1`)
 - **musicServiceBaseDomain**: Set to `last.fm` or `spotify.com`
 
 ### Optional Fields
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ Each scrobble becomes an `fm.teal.alpha.feed.play` record with:
   "recordingMbId": "3a390ad3-fe56-45f2-a073-bebc45d6bde1",
   "playedTime": "2025-11-13T23:49:36Z",
   "originUrl": "https://www.last.fm/music/Cjbeards/_/Paint+My+Masterpiece",
-  "submissionClientAgent": "malachite/v0.7.0",
+  "submissionClientAgent": "malachite/v0.7.1",
   "musicServiceBaseDomain": "last.fm"
 }
 ```
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ Each scrobble becomes an `fm.teal.alpha.feed.play` record with:
   "releaseName": "Twenty",
   "playedTime": "2021-09-09T10:34:08Z",
   "originUrl": "https://open.spotify.com/track/3gZqDJkMZipOYCRjlHWgOV",
-  "submissionClientAgent": "malachite/v0.7.0",
+  "submissionClientAgent": "malachite/v0.7.1",
   "musicServiceBaseDomain": "spotify.com"
 }
 ```
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b622f6d..72bc671 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "malachite",
-  "version": "0.7.0",
+  "version": "0.7.1",
   "description": "Malachite - Import Last.fm and Spotify listening history to ATProto with intelligent deduplication and rate limiting",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./dist/index.js",
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 90a2cc3..b3ecc10 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const RECORD_TYPE = 'fm.teal.alpha.feed.play';
 export function buildClientAgent(_debug = false) {
   // Always return just the version, regardless of debug mode
   // The debug parameter is kept for backwards compatibility but unused
-  return 'malachite/v0.7.0';
+  return 'malachite/v0.7.1';
 }
 
 // Default batch configuration - conservative for PDS safety
diff --git a/src/lib/cli.ts b/src/lib/cli.ts
index eb700fe..9872ea1 100644
--- a/src/lib/cli.ts
+++ b/src/lib/cli.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import {
  */
 export function showHelp(): void {
   console.log(`
-${'\x1b[1m'}Malachite v0.7.0${'\x1b[0m'}
+${'\x1b[1m'}Malachite v0.7.1${'\x1b[0m'}
 
 ${'\x1b[1m'}USAGE:${'\x1b[0m'}
   pnpm start                     Run in interactive mode (prompts for all inputs)
@@ -282,8 +282,23 @@ async function runInteractiveMode(): Promise<CommandLineArgs> {
     }
     
     if (!useSavedCreds) {
-      args.handle = await prompt('ATProto handle (e.g., alice.bsky.social): ');
-      args.password = await prompt('App password: ', true);
+      let handle = '';
+      while (!handle) {
+        handle = await prompt('ATProto handle (e.g., alice.bsky.social): ');
+        if (!handle) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Handle is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args.handle = handle;
+      
+      let password = '';
+      while (!password) {
+        password = await prompt('App password: ', true);
+        if (!password) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Password is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args.password = password;
       
       // Offer to save credentials
       const saveCredsAnswer = await confirm('\nSave credentials for future use? (encrypted, machine-specific)', false);
@@ -299,12 +314,41 @@ async function runInteractiveMode(): Promise<CommandLineArgs> {
   // Get input files
   if (args.mode !== 'deduplicate') {
     if (args.mode === 'combined') {
-      args.input = await prompt('Path to Last.fm CSV file: ');
-      args['spotify-input'] = await prompt('Path to Spotify export (file or directory): ');
+      let input = '';
+      while (!input) {
+        input = await prompt('Path to Last.fm CSV file: ');
+        if (!input) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Path is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args.input = input;
+      
+      let spotifyInput = '';
+      while (!spotifyInput) {
+        spotifyInput = await prompt('Path to Spotify export (file or directory): ');
+        if (!spotifyInput) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Path is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args['spotify-input'] = spotifyInput;
     } else if (args.mode === 'spotify') {
-      args.input = await prompt('Path to Spotify export (file or directory): ');
+      let input = '';
+      while (!input) {
+        input = await prompt('Path to Spotify export (file or directory): ');
+        if (!input) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Path is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args.input = input;
     } else {
-      args.input = await prompt('Path to Last.fm CSV file: ');
+      let input = '';
+      while (!input) {
+        input = await prompt('Path to Last.fm CSV file: ');
+        if (!input) {
+          console.log('⚠️  Path is required. Please try again.');
+        }
+      }
+      args.input = input;
     }
     console.log('');
   }
@@ -338,13 +382,23 @@ export async function runCLI(): Promise<void> {
     let args = parseCommandLineArgs();
     
     // Check if running with no arguments (interactive mode)
-    const hasAnyArgs = Object.keys(args).some(key => {
+    // Modifier flags like --dry-run, --verbose, --yes, etc. don't count as "real" arguments
+    const modifierFlags = ['dry-run', 'verbose', 'quiet', 'yes', 'reverse', 'aggressive', 'fresh', 'dev'];
+    const hasSubstantiveArgs = Object.keys(args).some(key => {
       const value = args[key as keyof CommandLineArgs];
-      return value !== undefined && value !== false && value !== 'lastfm'; // lastfm is default mode
+      // Skip undefined, false values, and default mode
+      if (value === undefined || value === false || (key === 'mode' && value === 'lastfm')) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      // Skip modifier flags
+      if (modifierFlags.includes(key)) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return true;
     });
     
-    if (!hasAnyArgs) {
-      // No arguments provided - run interactive mode
+    if (!hasSubstantiveArgs) {
+      // No substantive arguments provided - run interactive mode
       args = await runInteractiveMode();
     }
     
@@ -434,8 +488,16 @@ export async function runCLI(): Promise<void> {
     }
 
     if (mode === 'deduplicate') {
+      // Try to load saved credentials if not provided
       if (!args.handle || !args.password) {
-        throw new Error('Deduplicate mode requires --handle and --password');
+        const creds = loadCredentials();
+        if (creds) {
+          args.handle = creds.handle;
+          args.password = creds.password;
+          log.info(`Using saved credentials for: ${creds.handle}`);
+        } else {
+          throw new Error('Deduplicate mode requires --handle and --password (or saved credentials)');
+        }
       }
       log.section('Remove Duplicate Records');
       agent = await login(args.handle, args.password, cfg.SLINGSHOT_RESOLVER) as AtpAgent;
@@ -461,8 +523,16 @@ export async function runCLI(): Promise<void> {
       return;
     }
 
+    // Try to load saved credentials if not provided
     if (!args.handle || !args.password) {
-      throw new Error('Missing required arguments: --handle and --password');
+      const creds = loadCredentials();
+      if (creds) {
+        args.handle = creds.handle;
+        args.password = creds.password;
+        log.info(`Using saved credentials for: ${creds.handle}`);
+      } else {
+        throw new Error('Missing required arguments: --handle and --password (or saved credentials)');
+      }
     }
     log.debug('Authenticating...');
     agent = await login(args.handle, args.password, cfg.SLINGSHOT_RESOLVER) as AtpAgent;
diff --git a/src/lib/sync.ts b/src/lib/sync.ts
index 556d7fb..a5ec668 100644
--- a/src/lib/sync.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sync.ts
@@ -147,13 +147,10 @@ export async function fetchExistingRecords(
         }
       }
 
-      // Show progress every 250 records or every request if less than 1000 total
-      const showProgress = totalFetched % 250 === 0 && totalFetched > 0;
-      if (showProgress || totalFetched < 1000) {
-        const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
-        const rate = (totalFetched / (Date.now() - startTime) * 1000).toFixed(0);
-        log.progress(`Fetched ${totalFetched.toLocaleString()} records (${rate} rec/s, batch: ${batchSize}, ${elapsed}s)...`);
-      }
+      // Show progress on every batch
+      const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
+      const rate = (totalFetched / (Date.now() - startTime) * 1000).toFixed(0);
+      log.progress(`Fetched ${totalFetched.toLocaleString()} records (${rate} rec/s, batch: ${batchSize}, ${elapsed}s)...`);
     } while (cursor);
 
     const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
@@ -257,13 +254,10 @@ export async function fetchAllRecords(
         }
       }
 
-      // Update spinner with progress every 250 records or every request if less than 1000 total
-      const showProgress = totalFetched % 250 === 0 && totalFetched > 0;
-      if (showProgress || totalFetched < 1000) {
-        const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
-        const rate = (totalFetched / (Date.now() - startTime) * 1000).toFixed(0);
-        ui.updateSpinner(`Fetching records... ${totalFetched.toLocaleString()} found (${rate} rec/s, batch: ${batchSize}, ${elapsed}s)`);
-      }
+      // Update spinner with progress more frequently
+      const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
+      const rate = (totalFetched / (Date.now() - startTime) * 1000).toFixed(0);
+      ui.updateSpinner(`Fetching records... ${totalFetched.toLocaleString()} found (${rate} rec/s, batch: ${batchSize}, ${elapsed}s)`);
     } while (cursor);
 
     const elapsed = ((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000).toFixed(1);
diff --git a/src/utils/input.ts b/src/utils/input.ts
index 093b01a..37a41ca 100644
--- a/src/utils/input.ts
+++ b/src/utils/input.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 import * as readline from 'readline';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 
+/**
+ * Strip surrounding quotes from a string (single or double quotes)
+ */
+function stripQuotes(str: string): string {
+  str = str.trim();
+  if ((str.startsWith("'") && str.endsWith("'")) || 
+      (str.startsWith('"') && str.endsWith('"'))) {
+    return str.slice(1, -1);
+  }
+  return str;
+}
+
 /**
  * Display a menu and get user selection
  */
@@ -113,7 +125,9 @@ export function prompt(question: string, hideInput = false): Promise<string> {
 
       rl.question(question, (answer) => {
         rl.close();
-        resolve(answer);
+        // Strip quotes from file paths
+        const cleaned = stripQuotes(answer);
+        resolve(cleaned);
       });
     }
   });