Thanks so much to all for your replies. My apology for my belated response. In asking your questions, I believe you provided me most of the answers.
Some further research I completed and a faint memory of the first screen to which Chrome opened after I received the refurbished S22+ brought me to the conclusion the phone issues I am facing are because the phone has MVNO-modified software/firmware. I didn't know that was such a common practice, as I have learned. After reading your responses this morning, I finally dialed the number in the popup hotspot message and got U.S. Cellular (Chicago-based MVNO) It appears they installed their own version of software/firmware (?) which is the source of all my frustrations and issues.
In addition to the hotspot startup warning popup, many of the online YouTube "newbie" setup videos have left me wondering because quite a few settings being shown in those videos that simply do not exist in the S22+ phone I purchased. And, there are other oddities like the hotspot popup message that I could find no one else complaining about, the two button screenshot not working (wasted 45 minutes a little while ago trying to fix that, but no luck), etc. etc. Then phone has been fraught with frustrations and problems since I received it. (I'm moving up from an S9+, so I expected some issues, but not the popups, missing settings, etc.)
If there is a simple way for me to fix it -- i.e., somehow download a non-modified version of the Android 13 software (and firmware, I am guessing?) -- I might try that. Although trying it with my level of knowledge is likely highly risky. I'm old, 78, and tech stuff does not come easy to me these days,
If there is NO SIMPLE SOLUTION. I'm still within the return period after purchase and I am sending it back.
Then, if I return it, is there any way to know a different S22 I purchase will not have the same issues, or is it just a crap shoot about what 'ya get when buying refurbished?
And, again, thank you, thank you to all for your responses.
jesfl
P.S. I tried to attach a pix of the popup hotspot message taken with my S9+, since screenshot on the phone isn't working. Not sure if it is really attached? And, if the above MVNO software theory is likely the problem, it's now irrelevant anyway.