[mikeSiLVO]

I don't think it is database related, nothing in log and db activity is common to all skins. The Library Data Provider does cause more db activity (and whatever it is being used for I wish skinners would come talk to me because I'm sure it is an inefficient way to do things that could be done in core if I knew it was wanted) but again not the issue. Skin Widgets will be triggering art loading, so I could be why the art is requested.

I am so very sorry but I cannot answer this part . I only know what I know, ya know . All of my assumptions come from what I have learned along the way...

I currently use Library Data Provider cause when it was introduced Kodi did not provide the $INFOlabels for the Home Screen items without it. Music and/or video items but the music database info has been greatly improved due to your amazing additions/improvements @DaveBlake and my preference would be to only use what Kodi core provides. ATM I am not 100% sure how to achieve that without losing any of the currently expected functionality...

I hope @dkoh can provide a new debug log with some of the many "variables" removed.

If you have any suggestions or recommendations I will gladly follow any advice you may have to minimize my current reliance on any and all scripts/addons

My ultimate goal (time permitting OFC) is to have as close as I can to zero required addons just like Estuary

It seems that "String.IsEqual(ListItem.Icon,OverlaySpoiler.png)" is never "true".
Here are the corresponding Kodi-PRs:
The last one is IMHO the important one. It changes ListItenm.Icon corewise.
The fix for your skin is to change

xml:
String.IsEqual(ListItem.Overlay,OverlayUnwatched.png) + String.IsEqual(ListItem.Icon,OverlaySpoiler.png)

with

xml:
String.IsEqual(ListItem.Plot,$LOCALIZE[20370])

in "NoSpoilerIconVar" (Variables.xml).
This is tested on latest Kodi 18.2 RC, Milhouse build from 0304

I follow the Kodi (xbmc) GitHub as well as I can. Just like I know that when this PR gets implemented I will have to revert my current implementation to accommodate. I will if and when it gets merged but until then my current way works just fine in my testing. I have no idea why you think following the plot localization is a better approach...?

OverlayUnwatched.png and OverlaySpoiler.png should, to the best of my knowledge, be "hardcoded" in Kodi...

Does anybody else have issues with this functionality?