Erase and reinstall macOS on a 2019 T2 MBP

Hello, Barney.

I plead a certain ignorance respecting the terms & knowledge of what comprises Mac hardware. Hence, a list of queries back to you to deliver my self from the muddle I am now encountered with.

1.) If

the System Volume . . . cannot be altered.

what concern is there about "erasing" it? — For if it cannot be altered would seem to mean (include) that it cannot be erased, or harmed.

2.) I do not understand the distinction between the System Volume & the Data Volume, although I might guess that the "System Volume" is the impregnable T2 chip, itself, & that the Data Volume is where my personal files & "inputs" reside [ e.g., the Documents folder, The Pictures folder, &c. ], — but I do not truly know.

3.) It seems you are stating that Erase Assistant:

clears the data volume [&] destroys the keys used to encrypt that volume . . .

Please define for this Novice what qualifies the Data & the System Volumes if you would please. For there is an element in, — what I should presume is the Data Volume — that I want to eliminate & for good reason, which expiation belongs to an other post I submitted to this forum earlier.

4.) & also, if additionally, what are the keys used to encrypt the Data volume, which you stated could be destroyed? What is the consequence of that? — & "if it is something to avoid!" — Why does Apple have instructions — vis both ⌘R (macOS Recovery) & Erase Assistant — that can effect this untoward consequence?

5.) As noted in my initial post: Despite that the retailer who sold me this MBP did not believe themselves well enough acquainted with Erase Assistant they did advise me directly to conduct what they well enough understood was my objective — exclusively through ⌘R (macOS Recovery), which I understand no reason to not continue with.

No mention was made of utilising a bootable installer. I have one! I created it a couple of days ago day in apparent inutility, but through an intention to have in "security" one version of macOS (Ventura 13.1) appurtenant to this machine — on a portable drive lest I found myself embroiled in some terrible scenario where a bootable installer would be my only means of routing out of some unguessable problem.

6.) If worth to mention, I intended, upon the conclusion of the reinstallation of macOS 13.1 to enable File Vault — apparently to encrypt the Data Volume. That seems advisable.

7.) I do not apprehend the REASONS for your preclusions, especially as predicating the singular method of using a bootable USB installer — converse to conducting the entire process through ⌘R (macOS Recovery), which Apple themselves advise for T2 chip machines.

If I may politely submit:

Here, within the forums, many people are advanced (at top levels & with numerous points) & many other people writing in are nothing of the sort. I do not spurn your advices, but I have become rather muddled by terms referencing hardware, & macOS processes, which I am simply ignorant of. Hence, my numerous questions to attempt to examine & apprehend what you said in so few sentences means &, most importantly, how it applies to my objective, especially since — by directing the process to a bootable USB installer, which no Apple Guides bothered to direct one toward — it further confuses what one is to do when attempting a clean reinstall of macOS, which used simply to be a much less convoluted action or process.

I intend no insult, sir. I am, however, muddled & notably when I do not understand the distinctions between, — nor why what you suggest differs from what the actual manufacturer of the machine advises & at two (2) distinct sources (the links I included above) appertaining to exactly what I am attempting to achieve.

With all due respect,

— R. Boren

To Barney-15E & any other potential respondent:

This query is now CLOSED.

Subsequent to the response I initially wrote to Barney-15E (below this post or above; I do not understand where it shall be placed in sequence) — I telephoned the retailer who sold me the machine. They stated that using bootable USB installer would constitute an "extra step" & was unnecessary. I telephoned back to query about System Volume vs. Data Volume. They answered kindly & well & helped me to understand what I am doing & that qualified my reason for doing this even more.

TO WIT: I believe, now, that I very much well enough understand exactly what I am doing — & have substantial reason for doing so. I am going to execute the entire process through ⌘R (macOS Recovery) & will sedulously pay attention to every detail as I had, yesterday, downloaded & printed all relevant "guides" for instructions on & of every conceivable process I shall need, or plan to endeavour subsequent to, & including, the Erase & Reinstallation.

I am all set. Thank you for your willingness to involve yourself & help Barney-15E. I am, however, going to subscribe to Apple's methodologies & do what their guides instruct. I submit, again, that this query is resolved & CLOSED. Thank you, kindly.