Why is Download and Keep Originals not available?

Where are you seeing "Download and Keep Originals not being available as Apple's message instructs"? I don't see that in the screenshot. Download and Keep Originals can be seen in the sub-menu after enabling Photos (which is turned off in the screenshot).

Also, if I'm "clueless" as you state, then perhaps you should be seeking help from -- Get Support, not on this forum.

Mariusz Jaskowski wrote:

That is incorrect. Selecting Settings>Account>iCloud>Photos does not enable iCloud Photos, only selecting the switch beside iCloud Photos toggles the options to appear.

Of course. Now you're debating what select means?

Best of luck to you.

Mariusz Jaskowski wrote:

I just received the following message but Download and Keep Originals not an available option on my iOS 13.7 devices:

iCloud Photos has been disabled on all your devices and new photos and videos are no longer uploading to iCloud. There are currently 818 photos and 107 videos in your iCloud Photos Original format, full resolution versions of your photos and videos are not stored on your devices. You must download your full resolution photos and videos to at least one device before they are deleted from iCloud Photos in 30 days. To download your photos and videos to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 8 or later: 1. Connect to a power source and Wi-Fi. 2. Go to settings, tap on your account, tap iCloud, and then select Photos. 3. Tap Download and Keep Originals.

Sounds like you're either out of iCloud storage and/or device storage.

trying to turn off my Photos iCloud storage (4.8 GB) and my iPad Mini has 107.31 GB available so that has nothing to do with the option to Download and Keep Originals not being available as Apple's message instructs me to do.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/346b55c6-5ea9-4895-829a-c7f076c97790

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/a60b23fb-fd96-4347-82ab-343d495b8621

You are not seeing that option as you have Photos disabled/OFF by this screenshot. That option is only visible if Photos is enabled/ON.

The original instructions given you are correct.

Go to settings, tap on your account, tap iCloud, and then select Photos

Had you selected Photos as directed, the option would have enabled and you would have then seen the underlying dialog for Originals.