Ahhh - the firmware is my under test/debug/pre-cursor/not-quite-there version, if you know what I mean...
I'm looking around, and found someone else: vex_zg, who seems to have had similar experiences, here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/31826.
So, he set 8 Mhz and turned off the /8 clock option... Hhmm - I'll try anything. He has very similar experiences though - the MCU seems bricked then comes back to life! Exactly what I saw. I'm also pm'ing RMM, TK, and Mike C and asking them to check in. I know Mike has done 85 work, and RMM and TK I think started.