[CODAP] How should Preferences + State in a saved version work?

[Nancy-Salpepi]

Test device
MacBook Air M1 chip

Operating System
15.0.1

Browser
Safari 18.0.1

Problem description
For phetsims/qa#1170, if I open a saved CODAP wrapper that had alternate sensors in it, turn off alternate sensors, and then press Reset All -- the sensor will be there (but "alternate sensors" is unchecked in preferences). How should preferences and state work?

Should the "Alternate Sensors" preference:

1. Only apply to the toolbox and not the tools? If so, it shouldn't delete sensors from the circuit?
2. Hide everything about the sensors, including the sensors already in the circuit? If this is the desired option, then @arouinfar said that state needs to be overwritten so that the Reset All state doesn't reintroduce those sensors. Perhaps this issue will be of some help: Temperature units switch back to default when setting state greenhouse-effect#356

Steps

1. Save a CODAP wrapper that has a circuit with an alternate sensor.
2. Open the saved wrapper
3. Go to preferences and turn off Alternate sensors --sensor is removed from circuit
4. Press Reset All --sensor is added back to circuit but Alternate Sensors is still off in Preferences

[kathy-phet]

Only apply to the toolbox and not the tools? If so, it shouldn't delete sensors from the circuit?

It should remove all the alternative sensors, even if they are in a circuit.

Hide everything about the sensors, including the sensors already in the circuit? If this is the desired option, then @arouinfar said that state needs to be overwritten so that the Reset All state doesn't reintroduce those sensors. Perhaps this issue will be of some help: phetsims/greenhouse-effect#356

Sim-specific preferences are stateful, so it should remember the state of that preference. Medium priority as it is less likely. May wait for Matt B to get back or Joey to say its important to fix this.