Update:
Tried every rational image resolution I could think of, running the entire cover generation process through Calibre 9.12. and into Adobe Digital 4.5.12.112: 96dpi,150, 200, 300, 600. Same issue as earlier. Image is perfect until the epub is opened with Adobe Digital. Then the front cover looks like ... mmm ... moth eaten junk.
The attachments demonstrate the different image resolutions used to gen the epubs (the last number in the file name.
There has to be a solution! Right? Hopefully?