Maybe the Wildlands non-release bug happens when you save on the turn just after you complete objectives but before they are updated?
Like with the Fire Elemental summon whose cost stayed around when it was saved on the turn of the Fire Elemental loss, maybe the Wildlands non-release is a variation on this?
Also, please provide some lore rationalisation for most things not updating until next turn? I'm sure you could make something up that works at this.