[seguer]

Mainly because the checksum is a very good source of truth. Not every file you get is named correctly, or the same as originally intended.

Regardless of the checking method, will there be an API to add episodes to a personal list, regardless of check sum or filname checking?

Next feature: notification of new episodes, particular by collecting group?

These are pretty much the 2 killer features I personally use AniDB for. The back end code for me is less important, because everything I need it to do, is being done. :)