@bryanjenks so I had the similar issue ("Fake" physical dimmer dilemma - #7 by curiouspasserby). Return everything to default (smart mode = off, local mode = on) and just re-wire the dimmer: put both the load and Hot wires into Hot holes on the dimmer!
Now it’ll always be connected and the dimmer will be changing the voltage, which doesn’t affect anything, but you’ll have the LED working.
The downside of it is that you won’t be able to get the power usage as it bypasses Load.