What does deleting the persistent file do?
I try and remember to check the other source tomorrow.
Well my UI has returned. I removed the persistent file and it's back, though in trying to test it being the cause and putting the file back, the UI remained, so who knows. Either way I can use it again. Sadly there's no recovering my saves anyway, so that's just bullet to bite regardless.
I didn't end up trying the other downloads at all.