Hey! Got an idea where you could 'give back' to Moodle Community in a round about way. Grant me access to your server so I can inspect what a Softac install of Moodle does ... and doesn't do. From what you shared about environment check, Softac altered the core code ... no 'update component' and no newly populated versions of Moodle to see in drop down list.
I'll compile findings and post here in Moodle HQ forums ... for the folks who use providers Softac installs to see what's missing from core Moodle.
Who knows ... might lead to Moodle HQ working with Softac folks to provide a 'slick' (works 99.99% of the time) Wizard - installer / upgrader. (uhhh, kinda doubt that really cause Moodle Partners would have no need of such a 'Wizard'!)
Anyhoo ... let me know and we can talk over phone!
'SoS', Ken