Unable to re-edit image without deleting catalog

Hate the idea of software managing something I didn't ask for.

Maybe you are using some other software than Lightroom or Lightroom Classic, because everything you said does not sound like Lightroom or Lightroom Classic. Could you confirm what software you are using?

Neither of those programs do things to your photos that you didn't ask for (although there are default operations, maybe you don't like those; defaults are easy to change).

Every time I want to re-edit an image that I've already edited, I have to delete the catalog file so that Her Highness will allow me to re-edit.

Of course this is not true. The photos are in the Lightroom Classic catalog, you find it in the catalog and then you can re-edit as much as you want. Please take the time to learn how the software works; a good resource is the free e-book for Lightroom Classic beginners.

But with the attitude you are expressing, maybe you would be better off finding some other software to use. This has caused you a lot of grief, and prevented you from learning how it works in a whole year, definitely consider switching to some other software that you would like better.

Can you post screenshots of what you see? Obviously you do not have to delete the catalog to make further edits. You should simply be able to continue making edits. Embed the screenshot(s) using this button  . Do not attach them, please.