MaxT

The above linked GitHub repo contains exactly what was asked - brief overview of the build system with links to documentation. Have you read those?

It is better to avoid outdated releases, otherwise googling for those quite common errors or searching Debian forums might be more efficient but still not give desired comfort.

Search forum- AFIAR @Igor wrote re wiringpi recently.

AFAIR armbian creates swap in RAM

Guess conflicted packages should be removed first. These are quite basic Linux matters, probably worth googling first for alike.

cd to debs before running dpkg

See last two lines https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_single-board-computers Seems snapshots are available

If a feature works on the board under OS A and does not under OS B, given both are Linux based, one can rule our HW issue. By comparing kernel patches, one can rule out drivers, same with kernel configs/build options and lastly userland SW That's all I meant. Remember, OpenWRT, DDWRT, etc. are built with networking/AP functionality in mind, have large user base using exactly feature in question and there might be hints on their forums, wiki, etc.

Maybe worth trying OpenWRT - it is built with AP functionality in mind and if it works, assess whether config(s)/build options can be applied to Armbian

No, I didn't say that. I have no clue of your knowledge or which to judge on it. If you believe that have enough knowledge and interest in becoming this board's maintainer, pls read Armbian docs for the process, I guess team will welcome this. It seems that unless you or someone else will step in, board's status will not change. I would not expect that someone will be spending his time in absence of interest in this board or being paid (whom by?).

Absence of someone having knowledge and interest in being board maintainer, I suppose.

Probably worth just googling for hostapd and wpa2 and/or wpa3, no?

I guess you actually have not properly configured AP security mode wpa2 and/or wpa3 (not just wpa !!!)

If the AP mode is really just wpa-psk, it might be not supported by modern OSes (iOS, MacOS, etc). Eg: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254452739?sortBy=rank You might need to find an appropriate security mode for the AP and configure it right, but here you are on your own.

Why not search forum first? There was smth similar few days ago