Hmm. The Samba changes should have no effect on smb:// as they relate entirely to the configuration of the Samba server in LibreELEC, and not the way in which Kodi communicates with your NAS.
Texture Cache Maintenance Utility: Preload your texture cache for optimal UI performance. Remotely manage media libraries. Purge unused artwork to free up space. Find missing media. Configurable QA check to highlight metadata issues. Aid in diagnosis of library and cache related problems.