I think the issue is with your remote compile. When you don’t have plugins it doesn’t need to remote compile, when you do you need. I may be wrong here but I think remote compile on mac only works for engines compiled from source - you might need to do that.
Re getting answers from this forum, I hear your pain my friend - it’s very underwhelming… I normally end up answering my own questions, for the greater good. Rarely I get answers…
Good luck, let me know if running a version compiled from source worked for you.