Update and new issues. Tried the install from the USB image and ran “sysinst” from there and it worked for installing the base system.
Two issues though: 1) pkgin install reported an error - no libcrypt.so found, and 2) pkgsrc install failed as it downloaded in “.tar.gz” format (I think), but expected a “.tar.xz” format for unpacking. Also interesting that during install if one installs the files from a local filesystem you’re asked where the source files are, but even if a valid path is provided they are never installed. I think this is a long-standing issue though.