So now we have another random Netgate bug for which I am thnkful for a fix that I would never have found myself:

https://forum.netgate.com/topic/153708/solved-but-bug-still-present-available-packages-empty

20240824 Changed default Wan IPv6 to have DHCP6 (instead of none) and packages show! No need of IPv6 traffic.

Who could guess this would be left hanging to trap us?