diff --git a/pkg/state/state.go b/pkg/state/state.go
index cf96259f..21b56bac 100644
--- a/pkg/state/state.go
+++ b/pkg/state/state.go
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ func (st *HelmState) WriteReleasesValues(helm helmexec.Interface, additionalValu
 				return []error{fmt.Errorf("reading %s: %w", f, err)}
 			}
 
-			if err := yaml.UnmarshalWithAppend(srcBytes, &src); err != nil {
+			if err := yaml.Unmarshal(srcBytes, &src); err != nil {
 				return []error{fmt.Errorf("unmarshalling yaml %s: %w", f, err)}
 			}
 
@@ -3345,19 +3345,16 @@ func (st *HelmState) generateTemporaryReleaseValuesFiles(release *ReleaseSpec, v
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected type of value: value=%v, type=%T", typedValue, typedValue)
 		}
 
+		processor := yaml.NewAppendProcessor()
 		for k, v := range fileValues {
-			mergedRaw[k] = mergeAppendValues(mergedRaw[k], v)
+			if err := processor.MergeWithAppend(mergedRaw, map[string]any{k: v}); err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process key+ syntax: %w", err)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	processor := yaml.NewAppendProcessor()
-	processed, err := processor.ProcessMap(mergedRaw)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process key+ syntax: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if len(processed) > 0 {
-		valfile, err := createTempValuesFile(release, processed)
+	if len(mergedRaw) > 0 {
+		valfile, err := createTempValuesFile(release, mergedRaw)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -3370,7 +3367,7 @@ func (st *HelmState) generateTemporaryReleaseValuesFiles(release *ReleaseSpec, v
 			_ = encoder.Close()
 		}()
 
-		if err := encoder.Encode(processed); err != nil {
+		if err := encoder.Encode(mergedRaw); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
@@ -3380,22 +3377,6 @@ func (st *HelmState) generateTemporaryReleaseValuesFiles(release *ReleaseSpec, v
 	return generatedFiles, nil
 }
 
-// mergeAppendValues merges two values for the same key, preserving key+ keys for later processing
-func mergeAppendValues(existing, incoming any) any {
-	if existing == nil {
-		return incoming
-	}
-	if em, ok := existing.(map[string]any); ok {
-		if im, ok := incoming.(map[string]any); ok {
-			for k, v := range im {
-				em[k] = mergeAppendValues(em[k], v)
-			}
-			return em
-		}
-	}
-	return incoming
-}
-
 func (st *HelmState) generateVanillaValuesFiles(release *ReleaseSpec) ([]string, error) {
 	values := []any{}
 	inlineValues := []any{}
@@ -4008,7 +3989,7 @@ func (st *HelmState) LoadYAMLForEmbedding(release *ReleaseSpec, entries []any, m
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to render values files \"%s\": %v", t, err)
 			}
 
-			if err := yaml.UnmarshalWithAppend(yamlBytes, &values); err != nil {
+			if err := yaml.Unmarshal(yamlBytes, &values); err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/state/state_test.go b/pkg/state/state_test.go
index 70149584..6d55e307 100644
--- a/pkg/state/state_test.go
+++ b/pkg/state/state_test.go
@@ -4571,245 +4571,3 @@ func TestPrepareSyncReleases_ValueControlReleaseOverride(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, tt.flags, r.flags, "Wrong value control flag for release %s", r.release.Name)
 	}
 }
-
-func TestMergeAppendValues(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name     string
-		existing any
-		incoming any
-		expected any
-	}{
-		{
-			name:     "nil existing returns incoming",
-			existing: nil,
-			incoming: "test-value",
-			expected: "test-value",
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "nil existing with map incoming",
-			existing: nil,
-			incoming: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
-			expected: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "scalar existing with scalar incoming",
-			existing: "old-value",
-			incoming: "new-value",
-			expected: "new-value",
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "scalar existing with map incoming",
-			existing: "old-value",
-			incoming: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
-			expected: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "map existing with scalar incoming",
-			existing: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
-			incoming: "new-value",
-			expected: "new-value",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - simple merge",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "value2",
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"key2": "new-value2",
-				"key3": "value3",
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "new-value2",
-				"key3": "value3",
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - nested merge",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"level1": map[string]any{
-					"level2": map[string]any{
-						"key1": "value1",
-						"key2": "value2",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"level1": map[string]any{
-					"level2": map[string]any{
-						"key2": "new-value2",
-						"key3": "value3",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"level1": map[string]any{
-					"level2": map[string]any{
-						"key1": "value1",
-						"key2": "new-value2",
-						"key3": "value3",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - deep nested merge",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"a": map[string]any{
-					"b": map[string]any{
-						"c": map[string]any{
-							"d": "value-d",
-							"e": "value-e",
-						},
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"a": map[string]any{
-					"b": map[string]any{
-						"c": map[string]any{
-							"e": "new-value-e",
-							"f": "value-f",
-						},
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"a": map[string]any{
-					"b": map[string]any{
-						"c": map[string]any{
-							"d": "value-d",
-							"e": "new-value-e",
-							"f": "value-f",
-						},
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - mixed types",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"string": "old-string",
-				"int":    42,
-				"bool":   true,
-				"slice":  []any{"item1", "item2"},
-				"nested": map[string]any{
-					"key": "nested-value",
-				},
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"string": "new-string",
-				"int":    100,
-				"bool":   false,
-				"slice":  []any{"item3", "item4"},
-				"nested": map[string]any{
-					"new-key": "new-nested-value",
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"string": "new-string",
-				"int":    100,
-				"bool":   false,
-				"slice":  []any{"item3", "item4"},
-				"nested": map[string]any{
-					"key":     "nested-value",
-					"new-key": "new-nested-value",
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "map existing with map incoming - empty maps",
-			existing: map[string]any{},
-			incoming: map[string]any{},
-			expected: map[string]any{},
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "map existing with map incoming - empty existing",
-			existing: map[string]any{},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "value2",
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "value2",
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - empty incoming",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "value2",
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"key1": "value1",
-				"key2": "value2",
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map existing with map incoming - complex nested structure",
-			existing: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"database": map[string]any{
-						"host": "localhost",
-						"port": 5432,
-						"credentials": map[string]any{
-							"username": "admin",
-							"password": "secret",
-						},
-					},
-					"cache": map[string]any{
-						"enabled": true,
-						"ttl":     300,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			incoming: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"database": map[string]any{
-						"host": "production-db",
-						"credentials": map[string]any{
-							"password": "new-secret",
-							"ssl":      true,
-						},
-					},
-					"cache": map[string]any{
-						"ttl": 600,
-					},
-					"logging": map[string]any{
-						"level": "info",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"database": map[string]any{
-						"host": "production-db",
-						"port": 5432,
-						"credentials": map[string]any{
-							"username": "admin",
-							"password": "new-secret",
-							"ssl":      true,
-						},
-					},
-					"cache": map[string]any{
-						"enabled": true,
-						"ttl":     600,
-					},
-					"logging": map[string]any{
-						"level": "info",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			result := mergeAppendValues(tt.existing, tt.incoming)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
-		})
-	}
-}
diff --git a/pkg/yaml/append_processor.go b/pkg/yaml/append_processor.go
index b85184b2..792e4e22 100644
--- a/pkg/yaml/append_processor.go
+++ b/pkg/yaml/append_processor.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package yaml
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -11,84 +10,6 @@ func NewAppendProcessor() *AppendProcessor {
 	return &AppendProcessor{}
 }
 
-func (ap *AppendProcessor) ProcessMap(data map[string]any) (map[string]any, error) {
-	result := make(map[string]any)
-
-	// First pass: collect all append keys and their base keys
-	appendKeys := make(map[string][]any)
-	baseKeys := make(map[string]any)
-
-	for key, value := range data {
-		if IsAppendKey(key) {
-			baseKey := GetBaseKey(key)
-			appendKeys[baseKey] = append(appendKeys[baseKey], value)
-		} else {
-			baseKeys[key] = value
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Second pass: process all values recursively
-	for key, value := range baseKeys {
-		processedValue, err := ap.processValue(value)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process value for key %s: %w", key, err)
-		}
-		result[key] = processedValue
-	}
-
-	// Third pass: merge append keys with their base keys
-	for baseKey, appendValues := range appendKeys {
-		for _, appendValue := range appendValues {
-			processedValue, err := ap.processValue(appendValue)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process append value for key %s: %w", baseKey, err)
-			}
-			if existingValue, exists := result[baseKey]; exists {
-				if isSlice(processedValue) && isSlice(existingValue) {
-					// Always append to the base key's slice
-					result[baseKey] = append(existingValue.([]any), processedValue.([]any)...)
-				} else {
-					// If not both slices, overwrite (fallback)
-					result[baseKey] = processedValue
-				}
-			} else {
-				result[baseKey] = processedValue
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return result, nil
-}
-
-func (ap *AppendProcessor) processValue(value any) (any, error) {
-	switch v := value.(type) {
-	case map[string]any:
-		return ap.ProcessMap(v)
-	case map[any]any:
-		converted := make(map[string]any)
-		for k, val := range v {
-			if strKey, ok := k.(string); ok {
-				converted[strKey] = val
-			} else {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("non-string key in map: %v", k)
-			}
-		}
-		return ap.ProcessMap(converted)
-	case []any:
-		result := make([]any, len(v))
-		for i, elem := range v {
-			processed, err := ap.processValue(elem)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process slice element %d: %w", i, err)
-			}
-			result[i] = processed
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	default:
-		return value, nil
-	}
-}
-
 func (ap *AppendProcessor) MergeWithAppend(dest, src map[string]any) error {
 	convertToStringMapInPlace(dest)
 	convertToStringMapInPlace(src)
diff --git a/pkg/yaml/append_processor_test.go b/pkg/yaml/append_processor_test.go
index 96a52821..cbae8bd4 100644
--- a/pkg/yaml/append_processor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yaml/append_processor_test.go
@@ -7,249 +7,115 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
-func TestAppendProcessor_ProcessMap(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name     string
-		input    map[string]any
-		expected map[string]any
-		wantErr  bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "simple append to list",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"values+": []any{"new-value"},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"values": []any{"new-value"},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "nested append",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items+": []any{"item1", "item2"},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items": []any{"item1", "item2"},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "mixed regular and append keys",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"name":    "test",
-				"values+": []any{"value1"},
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"enabled": true,
-					"items+":  []any{"item1"},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"name":   "test",
-				"values": []any{"value1"},
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"enabled": true,
-					"items":   []any{"item1"},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "non-list append value",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"key+": "value",
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"key": "value",
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			processor := NewAppendProcessor()
-			result, err := processor.ProcessMap(tt.input)
-
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-				return
-			}
-
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestAppendProcessor_MergeWithAppend(t *testing.T) {
+	processor := NewAppendProcessor()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		name     string
 		dest     map[string]any
 		src      map[string]any
 		expected map[string]any
-		wantErr  bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "append to existing list",
+			name: "append to existing slice",
 			dest: map[string]any{
-				"values": []any{"existing"},
+				"values": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
+					},
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "b",
+					},
+				},
 			},
 			src: map[string]any{
-				"values+": []any{"new"},
+				"values+": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "c",
+					},
+				},
 			},
 			expected: map[string]any{
-				"values": []any{"existing", "new"},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "append to non-existent list",
-			dest: map[string]any{
-				"other": "value",
-			},
-			src: map[string]any{
-				"values+": []any{"new"},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"other":  "value",
-				"values": []any{"new"},
+				"values": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
+					},
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "b",
+					},
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "c",
+					},
+				},
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "nested append",
 			dest: map[string]any{
 				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items": []any{"existing"},
+					"values": []any{
+						map[string]any{
+							"key": "a",
+						},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			src: map[string]any{
 				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items+": []any{"new"},
+					"values+": []any{
+						map[string]any{
+							"key": "b",
+						},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			expected: map[string]any{
 				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items": []any{"existing", "new"},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "scalar with key+ treated as regular key (replace)",
-			dest: map[string]any{
-				"replicas": 2,
-			},
-			src: map[string]any{
-				"replicas+": 1,
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"replicas": 1,
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "map with key+ treated as regular key (replace)",
-			dest: map[string]any{
-				"resources": map[string]any{
-					"limits": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "256Mi",
-						"cpu":    "200m",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			src: map[string]any{
-				"resources+": map[string]any{
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "128Mi",
-						"cpu":    "100m",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"resources": map[string]any{
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "128Mi",
-						"cpu":    "100m",
+					"values": []any{
+						map[string]any{
+							"key": "a",
+						},
+						map[string]any{
+							"key": "b",
+						},
 					},
 				},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "complex nested merge with key+ syntax for lists only",
-			dest: map[string]any{
-				"replicas": 2,
-				"resources": map[string]any{
-					"limits": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "256Mi",
-						"cpu":    "200m",
-					},
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "128Mi",
-						"cpu":    "100m",
-					},
-				},
-				"service": map[string]any{
-					"type": "ClusterIP",
-					"port": 80,
-				},
-				"kube-state-metrics": map[string]any{
-					"prometheus": map[string]any{
-						"metricsRelabel": []any{
-							map[string]any{"action": "drop"},
-						},
-					},
-				},
-			},
+			name: "create new slice if not exists",
+			dest: map[string]any{},
 			src: map[string]any{
-				"replicas+": 1,
-				"resources+": map[string]any{
-					"limits": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "512Mi",
-						"cpu":    "500m",
-					},
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "256Mi",
-						"cpu":    "250m",
-					},
-				},
-				"service+": map[string]any{
-					"type": "LoadBalancer",
-					"port": 443,
-					"annotations": map[string]any{
-						"service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-type": "nlb",
-					},
-				},
-				"kube-state-metrics": map[string]any{
-					"prometheus": map[string]any{
-						"metricsRelabel+": []any{
-							map[string]any{"action": "keep"},
-						},
+				"values+": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
 					},
 				},
 			},
 			expected: map[string]any{
-				"replicas": 1,
-				"resources": map[string]any{
-					"limits": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "512Mi",
-						"cpu":    "500m",
-					},
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "256Mi",
-						"cpu":    "250m",
+				"values": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
 					},
 				},
-				"service": map[string]any{
-					"type": "LoadBalancer",
-					"port": 443,
-					"annotations": map[string]any{
-						"service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-type": "nlb",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "overwrite non-slice with append",
+			dest: map[string]any{
+				"values": "not a slice",
+			},
+			src: map[string]any{
+				"values+": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
 					},
 				},
-				"kube-state-metrics": map[string]any{
-					"prometheus": map[string]any{
-						"metricsRelabel": []any{
-							map[string]any{"action": "drop"},
-							map[string]any{"action": "keep"},
-						},
+			},
+			expected: map[string]any{
+				"values": []any{
+					map[string]any{
+						"key": "a",
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -258,123 +124,13 @@ func TestAppendProcessor_MergeWithAppend(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			processor := NewAppendProcessor()
 			err := processor.MergeWithAppend(tt.dest, tt.src)
-
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-				return
-			}
-
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, tt.dest)
 		})
 	}
 }
 
-func TestUnmarshalWithAppend(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name     string
-		yamlData string
-		expected map[string]any
-		wantErr  bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "simple append syntax",
-			yamlData: `
-values+:
-  - item1
-  - item2
-name: test
-`,
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"values": []any{"item1", "item2"},
-				"name":   "test",
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "nested append syntax",
-			yamlData: `
-config:
-  items+:
-    - existing
-    - new
-  enabled: true
-`,
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"config": map[string]any{
-					"items":   []any{"existing", "new"},
-					"enabled": true,
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "complex values file with key+ syntax",
-			yamlData: `
-replicas+: 1
-resources+:
-  limits:
-    memory: 512Mi
-    cpu: 500m
-  requests:
-    memory: 256Mi
-    cpu: 250m
-service+:
-  type: LoadBalancer
-  port: 443
-  annotations:
-    service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-type: nlb
-kube-state-metrics:
-  prometheus:
-    metricsRelabel+:
-      - action: keep
-`,
-			expected: map[string]any{
-				"replicas": 1,
-				"resources": map[string]any{
-					"limits": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "512Mi",
-						"cpu":    "500m",
-					},
-					"requests": map[string]any{
-						"memory": "256Mi",
-						"cpu":    "250m",
-					},
-				},
-				"service": map[string]any{
-					"type": "LoadBalancer",
-					"port": 443,
-					"annotations": map[string]any{
-						"service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-type": "nlb",
-					},
-				},
-				"kube-state-metrics": map[string]any{
-					"prometheus": map[string]any{
-						"metricsRelabel": []any{
-							map[string]any{"action": "keep"},
-						},
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			var result map[string]any
-			err := UnmarshalWithAppend([]byte(tt.yamlData), &result)
-
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-				return
-			}
-
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestIsAppendKey(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		key      string
@@ -414,81 +170,3 @@ func TestGetBaseKey(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
-
-func TestAppendProcessor_ErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name    string
-		input   map[string]any
-		wantErr bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "invalid map with non-string key",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"valid": map[any]any{
-					123: "invalid", // non-string key
-				},
-			},
-			wantErr: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name: "valid map with string keys",
-			input: map[string]any{
-				"valid": map[string]any{
-					"key": "value",
-				},
-			},
-			wantErr: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			processor := NewAppendProcessor()
-			_, err := processor.ProcessMap(tt.input)
-
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-			} else {
-				assert.NoError(t, err)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestUnmarshalWithAppend_ErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name     string
-		yamlData string
-		wantErr  bool
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "invalid YAML",
-			yamlData: `
-invalid: yaml: content
-  - missing: proper: structure
-`,
-			wantErr: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name: "valid YAML with key+",
-			yamlData: `
-valid: true
-key+: value
-`,
-			wantErr: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			var result map[string]any
-			err := UnmarshalWithAppend([]byte(tt.yamlData), &result)
-
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-			} else {
-				assert.NoError(t, err)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
diff --git a/pkg/yaml/yaml.go b/pkg/yaml/yaml.go
index e909c1a6..ffde3622 100644
--- a/pkg/yaml/yaml.go
+++ b/pkg/yaml/yaml.go
@@ -63,76 +63,3 @@ func Unmarshal(data []byte, v any) error {
 
 	return v2.Unmarshal(data, v)
 }
-
-// UnmarshalWithAppend unmarshals YAML data with support for key+ syntax
-// This function first unmarshals the YAML normally, then processes any key+ syntax
-func UnmarshalWithAppend(data []byte, v any) error {
-	var rawData map[string]any
-	if err := Unmarshal(data, &rawData); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	processor := NewAppendProcessor()
-	processedData, err := processor.ProcessMap(rawData)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	processedYAML, err := Marshal(processedData)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return Unmarshal(processedYAML, v)
-}
-
-// NewDecoderWithAppend creates and returns a function that is used to decode a YAML document
-// with support for key+ syntax for appending values to lists
-func NewDecoderWithAppend(data []byte, strict bool) func(any) error {
-	if runtime.GoYamlV3 {
-		decoder := v3.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
-		decoder.KnownFields(strict)
-		return func(v any) error {
-			var rawData map[string]any
-			if err := decoder.Decode(&rawData); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			processor := NewAppendProcessor()
-			processedData, err := processor.ProcessMap(rawData)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			processedYAML, err := Marshal(processedData)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			return v3.Unmarshal(processedYAML, v)
-		}
-	}
-
-	decoder := v2.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
-	decoder.SetStrict(strict)
-
-	return func(v any) error {
-		var rawData map[string]any
-		if err := decoder.Decode(&rawData); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		processor := NewAppendProcessor()
-		processedData, err := processor.ProcessMap(rawData)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		processedYAML, err := Marshal(processedData)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		return v2.Unmarshal(processedYAML, v)
-	}
-}