Is this talking to claude code, or to claude api (and paying api rates)? programatically routing requests through claude code sounds like a good way to get banned, just like the opencode and openclaw users.

If you have a Claude sub with subsidized usage we use that. If not you pay API prices.

Is that because you start by running it inside Claude Code? I don't see how Claude would allow any other harness to call them for their subscription, after all that OpenClaw hullabaloo.

Yep exactly