[myrroddin]

I think I solved it with your hints, tips, and extra eyes. I'll trim out the extra code, so the line numbers won't line up, but it gets the point. I will know for sure next time I log in. The adjusted line 195 now reads

values = function() return SortedAddOns(AddOnList) end,

Which calls the following chunk at the top of the file.

-- create a list of installed AddOns that are returned to the options table
local AddOnList = {}
local function SortedAddOns(AddOnList)
    table.wipe(AddOnList) -- clean slate
    for i = 1, GetNumAddOns() do
        local folderName, title = GetAddOnInfo(i)
        if not exempt[folderName] then -- ignore exempt addons
            -- Lua tables start with an index of 1, and if AddOnList is empty, bump it to 1 instead of 0  for its first entry
            local index = #AddOnList + 1
            AddOnList[index] = title
        end
    end
 
    -- now sort AddOnList alphabetically
    table.sort(AddOnList, function(a, b)
        return a.name > b.name
    end)
 
    -- return AddOnList to options
    return AddOnList
end