FINALLY!
Good news, I have finally managed to get MSFS working by doing a ‘clean’ install of MSFS with a few other measures in place before attempting. Sorry for the long post, I’m hoping this may be useful to other people. Note: I had already done some of these steps in simply trying to get MSFS to load…
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run msconfig (type this in the search bar). Click service tab, tick the checkbox ‘Hide all Microsoft services’, then clicked disable all.
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Still in msconfig, click the Start-up tab, then click on Open Task manager.
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In Task manager click the Start-up tab. Note: I stretched the window then took a screen-shot so I know what to change back after. Click on each item, then Disable each item.
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Close task manager.
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Apply the changes in msconfig, then click ok and then restart when prompted. This will result in you PC rebooting in a ‘clean’ state with all those background tasks switched off - so all that ■■■■ that runs on the taskbar and hidden in the back ground.
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I unplugged all USB devices apart from my mouse and keyboard.
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Carried out a Windows update. Did not need any because I update regularly.
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Went to the Microsoft Store, and got any updates for there: Click on the three dots … click on Downloads and updates, then get updates. Again I did not need any as I had been doing this regularly.
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Restarted and into the BIOS to remove CPU over-clock so it was running as standard. Then rebooted back into Windows.
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Uninstalled Microsoft Flight Sim.
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Deleted the whole folder where it was installed - this time I figured I would also deleted the Community folder even though I had already renamed it. Basically because I suspect they need updating to be compatible anyway. Remember - I’m being quite drastic here to get it working.
12: Manually searched Appdata folders etc. where Flight Sim scatters folders and files and deleted them all, i.e. namely on my C drive, and H drive where MSFS had been installed previously.
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Shut the PC down completely.
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Reset my router. i.e. turned it off for a few minutes, then back on. Left it to initialise and settle before turning PC back on.
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Once back in Windows I confirmed nothing was running on the taskbar - there was one item for Asus updates which I exited.
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Created a new MSFS folder on my H drive.
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Back to the MS Store and into ‘My Library’, again via the three dots …
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Found Microsoft Flight Simulator (just the standard one even though I have purchased Premium Deluxe). Clicked Install, changed the path to my H drive for the packaged (default is C).
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Once the sim was installed I then installed Digital Ownership in the MS Store, i.e. BEFORE launching the sim.
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Now it was time to launch the sim which in did by running as administrator.
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Once it had completed the Checking for updates, I unticked the additional Deluxe and Premium Deluxe content - again, this was too keep he install simple and rule out any issues with those particular packs. I used the browse feature to find my MSFS folder then set it going.
Download speeds were much better this time and consistently staying high depending on the relative size of the package data being downloaded. After I was happy it seemed to be working ok, I left it to it (fell to sleep on my bed actually! 
When I came back I was pleasantly surprised to find MSFS sitting in the UI menu!
At this point I just navigated around the menus a little before quitting the sim, then immediately run it again to male sure it got to the UI.
Likewise I did a reboot (still in ‘clean’ state), then run the sim again, at this point I then started installed some of the additional content via the content manager. In between exiting the sim and making sure it would still work after a reboot etc. a couple of times.
I basically kept my PC in this ‘clean’ running state until I had installed all the additional content via Content Manager. Then I gradually reversed some of the above ‘clean’ state steps, starting with the changes via msconfig and Task Manager above. Each time I made sure the sim would still run.
Before I plugged my USB devices back in I loaded and started a flight albeit I only rolled down the runway. Then it was quit the sim, USB device reconnected, then a quick reboot before loading a quick flight (same location). Switched to VR and very short flight and land. No issues other than dumbed down graphic settings.
I have now reinstated my overclock and am about to load the sim and tweak some settings. Looking promising so far!..