Interesting. Well yeah null termination seems better if (a) you don’t have an integer encoding and (b) you have random ”bit” flips.

I don't think you need integer encoding to process fixed lengths. They do it just fine at the word level for codons. You would need a specific mechanic processors for each different schema length pattern though.

I think bit flips have no effect on the appropriateness of either fixed length or null termed. But omissions and comissions are probably why anything fixed length doesn't work.