What I do know is this is a more updated repository that includes everything to actually run, from my experience, and is how I currently run my craftbeerpi without issues.
I've completed the steps you laid out and it seems to put me back where I was. However, this does seem like a more complete load. I noticed it automatically installs several plugins (or perhaps it pulled from the ones I previously installed). I didn't have to install anything else to get it up and running, so this is definitely a better load!
The definite downside of what I'm having you do is you have to start over, add your sensors, actors, kettles, etc all over again. If you kept a list of your GPIO numbers and what they all lead to, this will take 5 minutes....and hopefully work.
Gonna end this with the fact that I don't actually know what I'm doing, I'm just trying to help given my experience.
I appreciate any help sir! Setup is easy in CBPi3, so this was a snap, but I'm still seeing the same problem where I get
Actor Error
Failed to setup actor BK 5500W Element. Please check the configuraiton
So perhaps it's not a software issue after all. I have confirmed I'm attached the the right GPIO's and I've confirmed with a meter that they are not firing when I fire them in CBPi. I'm checking this right on the pins of my HAT between GND and IO18. I believe I should see 3.3VDC there when fired from CBPi...
Another possibility is that I might not be controlling it correctly in CBPi, but I don't think so since I'm getting that Actor Error.
Under the Brewing tab I go to my Brew Kettle, select the arrow in the upper right, and Set Target Temp to something over ambient temp. Then I click the go button with the little car to fire the Actor. There's no operation guide that I can find, so I'm just going by intuition here. Can someone confirm I'm doing this right?