of course, you can also have a server level login trigger that bounces Windows Authenticated connections

What's the startup size of your tempdb ?

How many files compose tempdb?

Are they equally sized ?

I would indeed never have it fill up a disk/volume, so you can still enable...

Define your sort order to determine "first"

only key columns of an index are used to filter directly on index access

Filters using included columns are only applied after key columns have been processed ( stage 3 )

Included...

I've only seen these dbs file grow during application of cumulative updates.

So, I've never worried about them

Did you perform a SQL Server upgrade (cumulative update) on your SQL2022 ?

If not, at what frequency do you notice these small grow events ?

Maybe this can get you towards your quest

Declare @string varchar(160) = 'LUMBAR - FUT MEDSª, INJURED LOWER BACK LIFTING DRUG BOX'
, @position int = 1

Select len(@string) len_String,...

You have discovered why most of us dislike linked servers !

How did you declare and configure the linked server?

e.g. did you enable "collation compatible"?

Keep in mind data transfer between your...

Does this provide usable info for you ?

SELECT 
    ar.replica_server_name, 
    adc.database_name, 
    ag.name AS ag_name,
  ...

I've always advocated against inplace upgrades ( as it may leaves potholes or ports , ... open / active )

I suggest actually migrating to a new OS with the SQL...

There is no such thing as "an easy job" !

As always with AI, you'll have to validate and test this all.

Mostly no rocket science, but applied guidelines as they should.

It will get better over time ...

- outdated statistics?

- implicite conversions?

- functions in where clause?

- did you analyse the sqlplan using the free Solarwinds Plan Explorer ?

should be yourserver.yourdomain\yourinstance or yourserver.yourdomain,portnumber

Best is to file a bug for SSMS ( Help > Send Feedback > Report a Problem. )