I think it's a bug about the game thinking you are still in a boss room, where charging speed booster takes longer. It just keeps this state even though you're out. Not sure how to fix that, I'm assuming you've already tried turning the game off and on. I can't remember if it's associated with just the safe file, but if it is, you might have to delete it
I don't think we'll ever add this to the main boards. You might have more chances with the Category Extensions board though
A soft reset is when you press A + B + Start + Select. A hard reset is when you completely turn your console off then back on. We use this measure because it ensures you'll get a new RNG set or something along these lines, to make sure you aren't playing on one that is advantageous. We wouldn't expect someone to do this but it's just a general rule to make 100% sure everyone is on the same pace.
Also resetting your game takes you to press 4 buttons at once which isn't anything "insane". The emulator verifications are here to prove that your game is set the right way and that it runs exactly like it would on console. If anything, those rules allow more people to play and enter the boards.
The switch to RTA was mainly to avoid having so many people tied due to IGT. With the accuracy of Bizhawk and the experience to accept RTA times fron emulators on ZM, the switch was made for Fusion too. This obviously make it that runs without RTA will be ranked under those that have one, regardless of IGT.
About the "Good RTA / Bad IGT > Bad RTA Good IGT", it's mainly due to the language difference, as Japanese saves 3 minutes of RTA. We decided to only put a "Language" option when you submit your run, so that you can still compare by using filters.
It's totally your right to start your game and get a recorded time under the rules that let you submit your RTA, no matter how long it is. Also remember that these boards have no official impact, and that within the community, everyone knows their place when it comes to their ranking, which includes various top runners who don't have an RTA despite having top tier runs (I can simply think about Rossu and DragonFangs).
I'm pretty convinced no changes will be make, as this decision was taken and voted by the community.
When you submit your run, you have to give your IGT anyway, mods won't do it for you. So yes be sure to wait for the in game time to show at the end of your video (when you have the ending screen with "Clear Time" + "Your rate for collecting items is" + "See you next mission") and to submit your IGT in the spot provided for that purpose ---> https://gyazo.com/2846a06cb027242784671c8eebd72604 Don't worry about the "Time" section since it's only for Real time and RTA isn't accepted on emulator. Also remember, as written in the Rules section : "Runs must start from a visible Hard or Soft Reset to be considered valid. Any use of save states or other emulator functions after the reset and before the In Game Time is displayed at the end of the credits invalidates the run." If you respect all of this then your submission should be accepted without troubles.
I personnaly use the GBA SP because the Dpad is way more precise than the GC joysticks if you run on GB Player, there is to much dead zone.