by Ken Task.
"currently have the recommended minimum of 4mb for packet size"
Sorry ... incorrect ... please see:
https://moodledev.io/general/releases/4.5
Server requirements
PHP setting max_input_vars must be >= 5000. For further details, see Environment - max input vars.
>= means greater than or equal to. So 5000 would be a minimum.
https://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php
Default is 1000
max_input_vars 1000 INI_PERDIR
Me thinks you are chasing a rabbit down a hole and you don't need to.
Set to 5000 to start ... if you still have same issue, increase to 6000.
Have been guilty myself of overthinking and going down rabbit holes and didn't need to! :|
'Spirit of Sharing' (SoS),
Ken