Sound Output resets with every reboot, does not honor OS

This is one of those "buzzing gnat" quirks that is subtly infuriating

2020 16" MacBook Pro, 99% loaded.
Resolve 17 PB.
CalDigit TB3+ Dock, which is connected to my Scarlett 212 (primary audio interface), as well as my UltraStudio 4K Mini. I want only the Scarlett for audio. When I tried to replace it when I got the US4KM, I got horrible ground/signal clicks and pops through the system (whole thing is thunderbolt to MacBook, power delivery too.) So I need the Scarlett. Love the Scarlett.

When I reboot, the whole system knows to use the Scarlett for output. SOMETIMES it'll switch to my LG monitor, but I can do that from the menu bar in macOS.

Thing is, macOS organizes your Sound Devices and you can't reorder (I don't think, please tell me if that's wrong, but Ive been googling for days). Which means I get this:

Screen Shot 2021-01-03 at 12.40.32 PM.png (120.58 KiB) Viewed 675 times

SO, when I start Resolve, it allllllways resets to "use system setting" in audio, which then means The Ultrastudio gets used, but that doesn't have output even connected. So I have to open resolve just to change that setting, close, then re-open, every, single, time.

1- is there a way to re-order the macOS outputs so the Scarlett is 1st?
2- is there a way to tell resolve to stop resetting that?
2- is anyone using the UltraStudio for sound output too?

Is the Focusrite configured as the output device in AMS?

AMS.png (98.75 KiB) Viewed 443 times

Is the Focusrite configured as the output device in AMS?

AMS.png

Yes, along with the other stuff listed. All the devices WORK fine as I/O, just need Resolve to not keep resetting to whatever is #1 in the audio output list, which is always the Ultrastudio, OR allow it to do that, but make the Scarlett #1.

IN the meantime, I've just allowed it to use the Ultrastudio, and reconnected my speakers to that instead of the Scarlett. But then when I crack open logic, I can't use this useless XLR input on the Ultrastudio, so I have to switch it all physically back to the Scarlett. Plugged into black box for video, red box for audio. ugh.