Welp all!
@csx333’s solution works for me! I’ve changed the code on GitHub so future users should get the scratch-free-audio. If you don’t want to reinstall, then make the change as marked in the solution here, it’s a one-line tweak to /usr/bin/vlcd.
facepalm
I couldn’t see the wood for the trees, and didn’t have a rubber duck to question my intentions!
Thank you @csx333