Great mod, thought it has one flaw so far.
When you do one of the special stage methods that need 50 rings and finish the special stage, the rings just respawn when you get back.
I just got all emeralds on Greenflower 1 just by time traveling over and over again.
Though, it's a great mod nonetheless.
The Rings you collected ALSO respawn on the way back in Sonic 2. So I'll just say it's "aesthetic".