I removed the latest LOS 17.1 ROM and flashed the /e/ OS 9-Pie Test-ROM e-0.9-p-20200530-UNOFFICIAL-a3xelte-by-manoj using “Clean install”. Everything went like clockwork.
The animated e-boot logo (I like it a lot) and the subsequent setup of the system is now routine.
The bugs known, e.g. reboot on wifi, from the official dev (oreo) build don’t occur - as with the first testbuild e-0.7-p-2020020439971-test-SM-A310F _a3xelte_by_manoj.