Yeah, Croydon was the deadline according to the committee's internal process on changing the draft before it is sent for ballot (rubber stamped as you said typically). What Bjarne is asking for is: 1. either an exception to the c++ committee's internal rule about changing the draft after the definitive meeting (in this case croydon) 2. or veto in the national ballot as you said.

By the way, didn't realise when I answered this that I was answering to you. Thanks for all the work on Rust! Your views on Rust and C++ are both much appreciated.