For Backdrop, we should build the functionality of simplified_menu_admin module into core. It combines the list of links with the title and description fields, so we can reduce the menu administration forms from 2 into one.
Here's how it would look (with the already ported simplified_menu_admin module):

Here's how the respective admin page looks like in vanilla D8 after https://www.drupal.org/node/663946 got merged:

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The simple way is - View source code - Copy and paste what you need - Bold can be easily added with <b> or <strong> tags
Use text editors in Summary Field
I have had a read of what Lando provides, and it's an excellent development tool, and it would solve the problem. But, I would prefer to find out why the problem is there in the first...
How often is the settings.php loaded.
Thanks for the info. I will give it a try...
How often is the settings.php loaded.