diff --git a/my/body/weight.py b/my/body/weight.py
index 1135cdc..28688b6 100644
--- a/my/body/weight.py
+++ b/my/body/weight.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def from_orgmode() -> Iterator[Result]:
             continue
         # FIXME use timezone provider
         created = config.default_timezone.localize(created)
+        assert created is not None #??? somehow mypy wasn't happy?
         yield Entry(
             dt=created,
             value=w,
diff --git a/my/cfg.py b/my/cfg.py
index aafa8a1..62be0d0 100644
--- a/my/cfg.py
+++ b/my/cfg.py
@@ -11,23 +11,9 @@ After that, you can set config attributes:
       export_path = '/path/to/twitter/exports'
   config.twitter = user_config
 """
+# TODO do I really need it?
+
 # todo why do we bring this into scope? don't remember..
 import my.config as config
 
-
-from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Union
-def set_repo(name: str, repo: Union[Path, str]) -> None:
-    from .core.init import assign_module
-    from . common import import_from
-
-    r = Path(repo)
-    module = import_from(r.parent, name)
-    assign_module('my.config.repos', name, module)
-
-
-# TODO set_repo is still useful, but perhaps move this thing away to core?
-
-# TODO ok, I need to get rid of this, better to rely on regular imports
-
 from .core import __NOT_HPI_MODULE__
diff --git a/my/config.py b/my/config.py
index 52841a9..0b30d9a 100644
--- a/my/config.py
+++ b/my/config.py
@@ -63,3 +63,6 @@ class time:
     class tz:
         pass
 
+
+class orgmode:
+    paths: Paths
diff --git a/my/core/cfg.py b/my/core/cfg.py
index c20ed7d..75ae1ea 100644
--- a/my/core/cfg.py
+++ b/my/core/cfg.py
@@ -8,14 +8,19 @@ C = TypeVar('C')
 # but short enough to change later
 # TODO document why it's necessary?
 def make_config(cls: Type[C], migration: Callable[[Attrs], Attrs]=lambda x: x) -> C:
-    props = dict(vars(cls.__base__))
-    props = migration(props)
+    user_config = cls.__base__
+    old_props = {
+        # NOTE: deliberately use gettatr to 'force' lcass properties here
+        k: getattr(user_config, k) for k in vars(user_config)
+    }
+    new_props = migration(old_props)
     from dataclasses import fields
     params = {
         k: v
-        for k, v in props.items()
+        for k, v in new_props.items()
         if k in {f.name for f in fields(cls)}
     }
+    # todo maybe return type here?
     return cls(**params) # type: ignore[call-arg]
 
 
diff --git a/my/orgmode.py b/my/orgmode.py
index 4860a4e..869b124 100644
--- a/my/orgmode.py
+++ b/my/orgmode.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def _created(n: orgparse.OrgNode) -> Tuple[Optional[datetime], str]:
             createds = m.group(0) # could be None
     if createds is None:
         return (None, heading)
+    assert isinstance(createds, str)
     [odt] = orgparse.date.OrgDate.list_from_str(createds)
     dt = odt.start
     # todo a bit hacky..
diff --git a/tests/config.py b/tests/config.py
index 995190f..2496002 100644
--- a/tests/config.py
+++ b/tests/config.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def setup_notes_path(notes: Path) -> None:
     import pytz
     class user_config_2:
         default_timezone = pytz.timezone('Europe/London')
-    config.weight  = user_config_2 # type: ignore[misc,assignment]
+    config.weight  = user_config_2 # type: ignore[attr-defined,assignment]
 
 
 def test_dynamic_configuration(notes: Path) -> None:
@@ -33,33 +33,6 @@ def test_dynamic_configuration(notes: Path) -> None:
 import pytest # type: ignore
 
 
-# TODO doublt I need it anymore.. keeping for now just for the sake of demonstration
-def _test_set_repo(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
-    from my.cfg import config
-    class user_config:
-        export_path = 'whatever',
-    config.hypothesis = user_config # type: ignore[misc,assignment]
-
-    # precondition:
-    # should fail because can't find hypexport
-    with pytest.raises(ModuleNotFoundError):
-        import my.hypothesis
-
-    fake_hypexport = tmp_path / 'hypexport'
-    fake_hypexport.mkdir()
-    (fake_hypexport / 'dal.py').write_text('''
-Highlight = None
-Page = None
-DAL = None
-    ''')
-
-    from my.cfg import set_repo
-    set_repo('hypexport', fake_hypexport)
-
-    # should succeed now!
-    import my.hypothesis
-
-
 def test_environment_variable(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     cfg_dir  = tmp_path / 'my'
     cfg_file = cfg_dir / 'config.py'
@@ -76,6 +49,39 @@ class feedly:
     import my.rss.feedly
 
 
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+
+def test_user_config() -> None:
+    from my.core.common import classproperty
+    class user_config:
+        param1 = 'abacaba'
+        # TOOD fuck. properties don't work here???
+        @classproperty
+        def param2(cls) -> int:
+            return 456
+
+        extra = 'extra!'
+
+    @dataclass
+    class test_config(user_config):
+        param1: str
+        param2: int # type: ignore[assignment] # TODO need to figure out how to trick mypy for @classproperty
+        param3: str = 'default'
+
+    assert test_config.param1 == 'abacaba'
+    assert test_config.param2 == 456
+    assert test_config.param3 == 'default'
+    assert test_config.extra  == 'extra!'
+
+    from my.core.cfg import make_config
+    c = make_config(test_config)
+    assert c.param1 == 'abacaba'
+    assert c.param2 == 456
+    assert c.param3 == 'default'
+    assert c.extra  == 'extra!'
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def notes(tmp_path: Path):
     ndir = tmp_path / 'notes'
diff --git a/tests/reddit.py b/tests/reddit.py
index 4f2c1bd..6a660ea 100644
--- a/tests/reddit.py
+++ b/tests/reddit.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ import pytest # type: ignore
 def prepare():
     from my.common import get_files
     from my.config import reddit as config
-    files = get_files(config.export_dir)
+    files = get_files(config.export_path)
     # use less files for the test to make it faster
     # first bit is for 'test_unfavorite, the second is for test_disappearing
     files = files[300:330] + files[500:520]