just to specify what I meant: the xml log shows stuff like
hofgraphicsoptionstextinfos.xml
as loaded, yet the init log says
[2025.281] VERSION: Mod Loaded: none
my first impression would be that you installed the mod into the core game files - but why your problem would then occur only when loading saves in the HOF-Mod is beyond me and it should certainly trigger all those altered assets warnings anyway if that were the case.
I have no idea why the game says there is no mod loaded but then loads the HOF-Mod components anyway. I am also not sure if that is at all related to the problem, but it was the only thing the struck me as odd