gotcha. the .ini file in bootloader/ini was wrong. correct it to:
[LineageOS 18.1]
l4t=1
boot_prefixes=switchroot/android/
id=SWANDR
icon=switchroot/android/bootlogo_android.bmp
logopath=switchroot/android/bootlogo_android.bmp
r2p_action=self
# usb3_enable=1
notice that there was a underline...