PICO 4 - Desktop View only works with Steam Link for Meta Quest

[cubee]

Setup:
- PICO 4 (base model)
- Laptop (Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X AMD)
- Hybrid GPU system (integrated AMD + dedicated NVIDIA)
- Windows 11 Home
- Wired/USB: ALVR and Steam Link for Meta Quest (sideloaded to the PICO 4, some old version idk how to check)
- SteamVR Beta 2.8.5
- Steam Client Live

I am aware several posts about "Desktop View doesn't work" exist, and it seems a common reason is SteamVR running on a GPU different from the desktop or similar. I've not yet found a way to get it working myself with ALVR.
However, I have found an interesting deviation from that trend. I've found it can function on my device, but only when running the Steam Link for Meta Quest app on my PICO 4.

When connected via ALVR or PICO Streaming Assistant/PICO Connect, the Desktop View panels are invisible. The buttons and resize handle are still visible, as are all of the display tabs (of which I currently have 3)
When connected via Steam Link for Meta Quest, the desktop views work as expected, despite missing audio and the HMD viewport being a small rectangle.

I'm uncertain why this works, but it seems consistent. Is the direct Steam Link connection doing something that the other steaming apps don't or can't do?