the (relatively long-lived but still recent to old guys like me) filibuster exception re: federal judiciary appointments being extended to Supreme Court nominations.

In other words, there was the filibuster.

Then there was an exception to the filibuster for reconciliation, else we would never have a spending bill.

Then there was an exception to the filibuster for appointing Federal judiciary, else we would never get another judge confirmed, and there was a huge backlog of vacancies. BUT: not for the Supreme Court, as that was deemed too important.

Then, finally, the so-called "Nuclear Option" in which the filibuster exception for judicial nominations was extended to the Supreme Court.

That's the way I remember it but I was hoping for an authority to chip in.