Garmin Explore maps

Lots of moving parts here.

First off, whatever you downloaded only covers certain areas. You have to be sure you download for the target area. This is usually less of an issue with TopoActive and Topo North America because the segments tend to be very large (half a state, or the entire state). Not like USGS topos or the equivalent aerial stuff (CDOQQ) which tend to come in 7.5 minute quad-sized pieces.

Secondly, zoom levels come into play. Most of the map types are available only at certain zoom levels. You might try zooming in and out to see if your selections change. 

What version of the Explore app are you using? I am surprised to see terminology like CDOQQ, which is left over from the DeLorme days. Technically, TopoActive is really OSM with some kind of Garmin "special sauce". But I have never seen it described as anything except TopoActive in the app.

As I suggested in your cross-post,  try removing and reinstalling the app. Removing the app will remove all of its data, so yo will have download the cartography again.

Problem is that Explore has iR features that are not present in Connect.

Yep agreed, i dont think the InReach Mini 2 works with connect...? Are there any third party apps that can link to an inReach Mini. I was hoping AllTrails or Gaia would as their apps and overall UI is SO much better than Explore app.

I was just on a hike and the same maps issue happened again. Basically i saw a cool looking trail and tried to create a course, nothing would snap to routs, i checked the maps and all these random things showed up, no sign of the TopoActive stuff i downloaded. See below image:

Once im back at the hotel all the usual maps show up:

Is it something to do with internet/mobile connection. I.e. if you don't have mobile signal you cannot use TopoActive Maps.

If so that is completely insane as the whole point for me getting the inReach mini was to be able to navigate while in mobile dead-spots, i.e. in the middle of a National Park.

Correct, the iOS Explore app as of version 3.3.1 does not show the correct map names without internet connectivity.  It shows the short names that you saw instead.  I have not yet tried the new 3.4 version released yesterday, June 29.

I also noticed in v3.3.1 that creating a course while away from internet could actually not use the TopoActive trail routing information, and instead would create a direct line path.  Hopefully, that bug has been fixed, else one of the primary goals of the Explore app, offline course creation, simply won't work.

And finally, I noticed one other issue with v3.3.1 or maybe one older version in the last few months:  I was away from internet and the Explore app wanted me to login again to use it.  Obviously that would also make the app useless during a backcountry trip.  Luckily that only happened once so far and never again.

This probably has to do with the app's desire to sync the world whenever you use it. That might account for the "login" requirement.

The problem with creating courses/routes/whatever with Internet connectivity MIGHT be a side-effect of the same thing. The app's desire to sync the route or course to the web. If that's the issue, it's not the maps - it's the fact that you want to create a course.

You might want to open a support ticket here. The app might be working as designed - but that doesn't mean it's sensible.

Sounds plausible.  I'll open a support ticket if I can repro in v3.4.

InReach Mini 2 does not display maps (Garmin support confirmed this) - according to another post I read, its memory is too limited (18MB).