OK, I think I have this solved as an actual hardware issue with the computer, perhaps in the MLB or BT module. I disconnected the trackpad via BT and plugged it in via USB—>Lightening cable. It worked flawlessly the rest of the day. So to me seems to point at an actual hardware issue since I have isolated users and OS in this entire escapade. This sucks because this was a BTO Mac Mini and I’ll have to wait another 7-10 days to get a new one.