Need to click on screen for full functionality

[Dual]

On one of my installations of VLC; all 3.0± variants, I need deliberately click on the playback screen in order for my minor custom changes to hotkeys to take effect (up and down buttons for medium jumps). This used to be in effect on launch.

Also the smaller floating control bar has effectively disappeared.*

Can someone help me find the prefs which let me (A) get full functionality on launch and (B) see the floating control bar at all times?

Many thanks

*ON EDIT: I feel I should clarify this. On launch, VLC puts up a small, black, opaque control bar which is obscured by full screen video and I never see again. A second, larger, translucent grey control bar appears from time to time during playback but not reliably or usefully.