tp_forumdisplay_threadlist different display at forums under same category ?

[akm]

Deleted previous thread after question became more complicated (at least for this diy forum software beginner) and needed to add more question info to the thread.

'display_threadlist' (template_prefix_forumdisplay_thread same, except for some deletions) is displaying different for some (same custom thread fields) forums, under same category, than others.

At one point the 'New Thread' button was not displaying at one of the forums (scrnshot attached) under the same category, so deleted the forum, then re-added the forum and that corrected the display (ie added back the 'new thread' button/image).

Now } --> is displaying (scrnshot attached) at some of same forums but not at others (some with threads and some not)... guess could have been caused by control_v (--> ) when editing code (for some reason have caught myself doing that a couple times), but not sure where the } came from... or even if the control_v contributed to it.

And why would show at some forums and not all ?

Have compared forum settings at...
ACP » Forum Management/View Forum
...as all other forums in category show the new thread button, so thought it might be a forum setting, but all seem to be identical.

Think have checked all the forumdisplay_ templates and forumdisplay.php code... but obviously missing something.

Slept on it (couple nites), but still no luck, will try again tonite.

Anything that might put me in the right direction ?