You might as well get the "possibly dumb" questions first, haha.. Environment wise, I'm starting with MusicBee Portable (latest 3.2 patch), and no prior install of the original LyricsReloaded plugin. I added the updated plugin via MB's Add Plugin button and all went smoothly; in the Portable version, the log file ends up in (drive:)/MusicBee/Appdata/mb_LyricsReloaded.
1. I read in the original version's documentation that the original ordering of the provider search list would be done automatically according to "best results" whe first installed--is that the case with the new version as well? If not, do you have any advice as to how to order the given list?
I did not change anything as far as the ordering. I don't know how that worked or was supposed to work or if it worked. I don't know how that would be measured and didn't see anything obvious that would indicate it was, which doesn't mean it wasn't there, just that I didn't see it because it wasn't obvious. Possibly the author manually ordered them based on his impression of what gave the best results. Don't know.
2. I don't auto-tag anything, so I'm adding lyrics from the Edit/Lyrics/Search Internet button; is this performing the same type of search I have set up in the Tags(2) prefs for the plugin?
Again, I don't know for sure. Sorry. I tried one and then looked at the log, and it is searching via the plugin and finding lyrics via the plugin, but they're not in the order I have them listed, so my guess is it's based on how fast they come back not how fast they're sent. I'm thinking it just searches everything and gives you whatever it gets first.
They go in order on the lyric panel when you right-click and do a "Search Next Provider" on the playing track. I think the lyric panel on now playing tracks is really what the plugin is intended for.
3. I'm assuming that when lyrics are found after hitting the "Search Internet" button, they are coming from the first hit made on the ordered provider list; does the search option "hard stop" there unless the provider from the initial hit is unchecked from the list? I'm thinking of cases where "flaky" results turn up and you'd like to see what a different provider is offering for the same song.
? I just added some providers and took out ones that don't work. Your guess is as good as mine through experimentation.
For a playing track when you search in the lyric panel, I know it does respect "Search Next Provider" and go through them in order.
On the tagging screen, MB native doesn't operate in the way you indicate and the plugin doesn't either. The plugin extends the functionality of whatever area, it doesn't' create new functionality.
4. For a future release, would it be possible to institute a maximum size option for the log file?
Probably. Beyond the scope of what I was trying to do, but I'm sure it can be done.
Thanks frankz! Initial impressions after an hour: "Sweet!" 
Can't take much credit, but I'm glad it's doing what you want it to nonetheless.
