Password not working to unlock MacBook after macOS Sequoia upgrade

Hello,

I would like to see if anyone else is experiencing a similar issue where periodically the password does not work to unlock my MacBook Air (M3). To unlock it I either have to use the fingerprint reader or reboot my machine (after which the password then works for a while again).

The more detailed / reproducible pattern is:

• Macbook has been locked for several hours (connected to power, external monitor and wifi / ethernet throughout)
• I enter my password using either an external keyboard or the inbuilt keyboard and it is rejected every time
• I unlock my MacBook using the finger print reader then reboot the machine
• Entering my password works again both to decrypt the drive on boot up, then also if I lock the machine or trigger standby mode by shutting the laptop lid

I've seen the same pattern 3-4 times over the weekend and today. Perhaps coincidence but as I recall the latest software update took effect on my machine also over the weekend.

Searching suggests there may have been similar issues in the past but nothing appears to be new in the community in the last year or so.

Other points:

• I checked the last dates my machine believes passwords were changed and these are consistent with what I expected. I rule out it somehow having changed itself!
• I don't see any suspicious signs or other malfunction, and have multi-factor authentication enabled so don't believe there's any reason to believe malware, hacking or similar are likely. Also I haven't installed anything new recently.
• When I got back into my laptop I tried to open a ticket using the feedback app (part of beta programme), strangely that will not let me log in (also requires account password) giving a "authentication error" but my laptop / OS password is still working. Could this point to some form of auth synchronisation issue?
• I've just used my password to log in to my apple identity to post this message, somewhat contradicting the above thought...!

Questions to the community:

1. is anyone else having the same problem? is there any way to get a sense of how prevalent this is?
2. what could be potential causes and fixes?

note that since I can't log in to the feedback assistant app I also can't give Apple feedback which could help raise the issue or resolve it!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]