diff --git a/tractor/_root.py b/tractor/_root.py
index 51dfc660..364e4563 100644
--- a/tractor/_root.py
+++ b/tractor/_root.py
@@ -202,7 +202,9 @@ async def open_root_actor(
 
     '''
     # XXX NEVER allow nested actor-trees!
-    if already_actor := _state.current_actor(err_on_no_runtime=False):
+    if already_actor := _state.current_actor(
+        err_on_no_runtime=False,
+    ):
         rtvs: dict[str, Any] = _state._runtime_vars
         root_mailbox: list[str, int] = rtvs['_root_mailbox']
         registry_addrs: list[list[str, int]] = rtvs['_registry_addrs']
@@ -272,14 +274,20 @@ async def open_root_actor(
                 DeprecationWarning,
                 stacklevel=2,
             )
-            registry_addrs = [arbiter_addr]
+            uw_reg_addrs = [arbiter_addr]
 
-        if not registry_addrs:
-            registry_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = default_lo_addrs(
+        uw_reg_addrs = registry_addrs
+        if not uw_reg_addrs:
+            uw_reg_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = default_lo_addrs(
                 enable_transports
             )
 
-        assert registry_addrs
+        # must exist by now since all below code is dependent
+        assert uw_reg_addrs
+        registry_addrs: list[Address] = [
+            wrap_address(uw_addr)
+            for uw_addr in uw_reg_addrs
+        ]
 
         loglevel = (
             loglevel
@@ -328,10 +336,10 @@ async def open_root_actor(
             enable_stack_on_sig()
 
         # closed into below ping task-func
-        ponged_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = []
+        ponged_addrs: list[Address] = []
 
         async def ping_tpt_socket(
-            addr: UnwrappedAddress,
+            addr: Address,
             timeout: float = 1,
         ) -> None:
             '''
@@ -351,17 +359,22 @@ async def open_root_actor(
                 # be better to eventually have a "discovery" protocol
                 # with basic handshake instead?
                 with trio.move_on_after(timeout):
-                    async with _connect_chan(addr):
+                    async with _connect_chan(addr.unwrap()):
                         ponged_addrs.append(addr)
 
             except OSError:
-                # TODO: make this a "discovery" log level?
+                # ?TODO, make this a "discovery" log level?
                 logger.info(
-                    f'No actor registry found @ {addr}\n'
+                    f'No root-actor registry found @ {addr!r}\n'
                 )
 
+        # !TODO, this is basically just another (abstract)
+        # happy-eyeballs, so we should try for formalize it somewhere
+        # in a `.[_]discovery` ya?
+        #
         async with trio.open_nursery() as tn:
-            for addr in registry_addrs:
+            for uw_addr in uw_reg_addrs:
+                addr: Address = wrap_address(uw_addr)
                 tn.start_soon(
                     ping_tpt_socket,
                     addr,
@@ -390,24 +403,28 @@ async def open_root_actor(
                 loglevel=loglevel,
                 enable_modules=enable_modules,
             )
-            # DO NOT use the registry_addrs as the transport server
-            # addrs for this new non-registar, root-actor.
+            # **DO NOT** use the registry_addrs as the
+            # ipc-transport-server's bind-addrs as this is
+            # a new NON-registrar, ROOT-actor.
+            #
+            # XXX INSTEAD, bind random addrs using the same tpt
+            # proto.
             for addr in ponged_addrs:
-                waddr: Address = wrap_address(addr)
                 trans_bind_addrs.append(
-                    waddr.get_random(bindspace=waddr.bindspace)
+                    addr.get_random(
+                        bindspace=addr.bindspace,
+                    )
                 )
 
         # Start this local actor as the "registrar", aka a regular
         # actor who manages the local registry of "mailboxes" of
         # other process-tree-local sub-actors.
         else:
-
             # NOTE that if the current actor IS THE REGISTAR, the
             # following init steps are taken:
             # - the tranport layer server is bound to each addr
             #   pair defined in provided registry_addrs, or the default.
-            trans_bind_addrs = registry_addrs
+            trans_bind_addrs = uw_reg_addrs
 
             # - it is normally desirable for any registrar to stay up
             #   indefinitely until either all registered (child/sub)
@@ -431,6 +448,16 @@ async def open_root_actor(
             # `.trio.run()`.
             actor._infected_aio = _state._runtime_vars['_is_infected_aio']
 
+        # NOTE, only set the loopback addr for the
+        # process-tree-global "root" mailbox since all sub-actors
+        # should be able to speak to their root actor over that
+        # channel.
+        raddrs: list[Address] = _state._runtime_vars['_root_addrs']
+        raddrs.extend(trans_bind_addrs)
+        # TODO, remove once we have also removed all usage;
+        # eventually all (root-)registry apis should expect > 1 addr.
+        _state._runtime_vars['_root_mailbox'] = raddrs[0]
+
         # Start up main task set via core actor-runtime nurseries.
         try:
             # assign process-local actor
@@ -438,20 +465,26 @@ async def open_root_actor(
 
             # start local channel-server and fake the portal API
             # NOTE: this won't block since we provide the nursery
-            ml_addrs_str: str = '\n'.join(
-                f'@{addr}' for addr in trans_bind_addrs
-            )
-            logger.info(
-                f'Starting local {actor.uid} on the following transport addrs:\n'
-                f'{ml_addrs_str}'
-            )
+            report: str = f'Starting actor-runtime for {actor.aid.reprol()!r}\n'
+            if reg_addrs := actor.registry_addrs:
+                report += (
+                    '-> Opening new registry @ '
+                    +
+                    '\n'.join(
+                        f'@{addr}' for addr in reg_addrs
+                    )
+                )
+            logger.info(f'{report}\n')
 
             # start runtime in a bg sub-task, yield to caller.
             async with (
                 collapse_eg(),
                 trio.open_nursery() as root_tn,
-            ):
 
+                # XXX, finally-footgun below?
+                # -> see note on why shielding.
+                # maybe_raise_from_masking_exc(),
+            ):
                 # `_runtime.async_main()` creates an internal nursery
                 # and blocks here until any underlying actor(-process)
                 # tree has terminated thereby conducting so called
@@ -526,9 +559,14 @@ async def open_root_actor(
                     )
                     logger.info(
                         f'Closing down root actor\n'
-                        f'{op_nested_actor_repr}\n'
+                        f'{op_nested_actor_repr}'
                     )
-                    await actor.cancel(None)  # self cancel
+                    # XXX, THIS IS A *finally-footgun*!
+                    # -> though already shields iternally it can
+                    # taskc here and mask underlying errors raised in
+                    # the try-block above?
+                    with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
+                        await actor.cancel(None)  # self cancel
         finally:
             # revert all process-global runtime state
             if (
@@ -541,10 +579,16 @@ async def open_root_actor(
             _state._current_actor = None
             _state._last_actor_terminated = actor
 
-            logger.runtime(
+            sclang_repr: str = _pformat.nest_from_op(
+                input_op=')>',
+                text=actor.pformat(),
+                nest_prefix='|_',
+                nest_indent=1,
+            )
+
+            logger.info(
                 f'Root actor terminated\n'
-                f')>\n'
-                f' |_{actor}\n'
+                f'{sclang_repr}'
             )
 
 
diff --git a/tractor/_runtime.py b/tractor/_runtime.py
index fda3a5c5..bbb85799 100644
--- a/tractor/_runtime.py
+++ b/tractor/_runtime.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class Actor:
         *,
         enable_modules: list[str] = [],
         loglevel: str|None = None,
-        registry_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress]|None = None,
+        registry_addrs: list[Address]|None = None,
         spawn_method: str|None = None,
 
         # TODO: remove!
@@ -256,11 +256,12 @@ class Actor:
         if arbiter_addr is not None:
             warnings.warn(
                 '`Actor(arbiter_addr=<blah>)` is now deprecated.\n'
-                'Use `registry_addrs: list[tuple]` instead.',
+                'Use `registry_addrs: list[Address]` instead.',
                 DeprecationWarning,
                 stacklevel=2,
             )
-            registry_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = [arbiter_addr]
+
+            registry_addrs: list[Address] = [wrap_address(arbiter_addr)]
 
         # marked by the process spawning backend at startup
         # will be None for the parent most process started manually
@@ -299,8 +300,10 @@ class Actor:
         # input via the validator.
         self._reg_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = []
         if registry_addrs:
-            self.reg_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = registry_addrs
-            _state._runtime_vars['_registry_addrs'] = registry_addrs
+            _state._runtime_vars['_registry_addrs'] = self.reg_addrs = [
+                addr.unwrap()
+                for addr in registry_addrs
+            ]
 
     @property
     def aid(self) -> msgtypes.Aid:
@@ -472,7 +475,11 @@ class Actor:
     def reg_addrs(self) -> list[UnwrappedAddress]:
         '''
         List of (socket) addresses for all known (and contactable)
-        registry actors.
+        registry-service actors in "unwrapped" (i.e. IPC interchange
+        wire-compat) form.
+
+        If you are looking for the "wrapped" address form, use
+        `.registry_addrs` instead.
 
         '''
         return self._reg_addrs
@@ -491,8 +498,14 @@ class Actor:
 
         self._reg_addrs = addrs
 
+    @property
+    def registry_addrs(self) -> list[Address]:
+        return [wrap_address(uw_addr)
+                for uw_addr in self.reg_addrs]
+
     def load_modules(
         self,
+
     ) -> None:
         '''
         Load explicitly enabled python modules from local fs after
@@ -1365,7 +1378,7 @@ class Actor:
         Return all IPC channels to the actor with provided `uid`.
 
         '''
-        return self._peers[uid]
+        return self._ipc_server._peers[uid]
 
     def is_infected_aio(self) -> bool:
         '''
@@ -1420,6 +1433,8 @@ async def async_main(
         # establish primary connection with immediate parent
         actor._parent_chan: Channel|None = None
 
+        # is this a sub-actor?
+        # get runtime info from parent.
         if parent_addr is not None:
             (
                 actor._parent_chan,
@@ -1464,10 +1479,8 @@ async def async_main(
 
             ipc_server: _server.IPCServer
             async with (
-                trio.open_nursery(
-                    strict_exception_groups=False,
-                ) as service_nursery,
-
+                collapse_eg(),
+                trio.open_nursery() as service_nursery,
                 _server.open_ipc_server(
                     parent_tn=service_nursery,
                     stream_handler_tn=service_nursery,
@@ -1518,9 +1531,6 @@ async def async_main(
 
                 # TODO: why is this not with the root nursery?
                 try:
-                    log.runtime(
-                        'Booting IPC server'
-                    )
                     eps: list = await ipc_server.listen_on(
                         accept_addrs=accept_addrs,
                         stream_handler_nursery=service_nursery,
@@ -1552,18 +1562,6 @@ async def async_main(
                 # TODO, just read direct from ipc_server?
                 accept_addrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = actor.accept_addrs
 
-                # NOTE: only set the loopback addr for the 
-                # process-tree-global "root" mailbox since
-                # all sub-actors should be able to speak to
-                # their root actor over that channel.
-                if _state._runtime_vars['_is_root']:
-                    raddrs: list[Address] = _state._runtime_vars['_root_addrs']
-                    for addr in accept_addrs:
-                        waddr: Address = wrap_address(addr)
-                        raddrs.append(addr)
-                    else:
-                        _state._runtime_vars['_root_mailbox'] = raddrs[0]
-
                 # Register with the arbiter if we're told its addr
                 log.runtime(
                     f'Registering `{actor.name}` => {pformat(accept_addrs)}\n'
@@ -1581,6 +1579,7 @@ async def async_main(
                     except AssertionError:
                         await debug.pause()
 
+                    # !TODO, get rid of the local-portal crap XD
                     async with get_registry(addr) as reg_portal:
                         for accept_addr in accept_addrs:
                             accept_addr = wrap_address(accept_addr)
@@ -1619,7 +1618,7 @@ async def async_main(
             log.runtime(
                 'Service nursery complete\n'
                 '\n'
-                '-> Waiting on root nursery to complete'
+                '->} waiting on root nursery to complete..\n'
             )
 
         # Blocks here as expected until the root nursery is
@@ -1674,6 +1673,7 @@ async def async_main(
     finally:
         teardown_report: str = (
             'Main actor-runtime task completed\n'
+            '\n'
         )
 
         # ?TODO? should this be in `._entry`/`._root` mods instead?
@@ -1715,7 +1715,8 @@ async def async_main(
         # Unregister actor from the registry-sys / registrar.
         if (
             is_registered
-            and not actor.is_registrar
+            and
+            not actor.is_registrar
         ):
             failed: bool = False
             for addr in actor.reg_addrs:
@@ -1750,7 +1751,8 @@ async def async_main(
             ipc_server.has_peers(check_chans=True)
         ):
             teardown_report += (
-                f'-> Waiting for remaining peers {ipc_server._peers} to clear..\n'
+                f'-> Waiting for remaining peers to clear..\n'
+                f'   {pformat(ipc_server._peers)}'
             )
             log.runtime(teardown_report)
             await ipc_server.wait_for_no_more_peers(
@@ -1758,20 +1760,23 @@ async def async_main(
             )
 
         teardown_report += (
-            '-> All peer channels are complete\n'
+            '-]> all peer channels are complete.\n'
         )
 
-    op_nested_actor_repr: str = _pformat.nest_from_op(
-        input_op=')>',
-        text=actor.pformat(),
-        nest_prefix='|_',
-        nest_indent=1,  # under >
-    )
+    # op_nested_actor_repr: str = _pformat.nest_from_op(
+    #     input_op=')>',
+    #     text=actor.pformat(),
+    #     nest_prefix='|_',
+    #     nest_indent=1,  # under >
+    # )
     teardown_report += (
-        'Actor runtime exited\n'
-        f'{op_nested_actor_repr}'
+        '-)> actor runtime main task exit.\n'
+        # f'{op_nested_actor_repr}'
     )
-    log.info(teardown_report)
+    # if _state._runtime_vars['_is_root']:
+    #     log.info(teardown_report)
+    # else:
+    log.runtime(teardown_report)
 
 
 # TODO: rename to `Registry` and move to `.discovery._registry`!