Salutations.
Taking a peek at a quick internet search for the keywords "initramfs zstd compression" and perusing the listings with the knowledge that Michael is using Mint21 (I'm assuming it's similarly labeled following it's parent of Ubuntu) it seems likely that there is an issue with the compression being run on that particular hardware. Then I found this article by Phoronix which gives added weight to the theory that it is a compression problem:
Ubuntu Rethinking Its Initramfs Compression Strategy - Phoronix
It's likely that Mint22 or even Ubuntu21.xx LTS will not have the same problem. That's just my theory though. Use at your own discretion.
As for this little jewel of disdain ridden text: "Who ever needed init system support before systemd?" Literally anyone who wasn't familiar with the technology and didn't RTFM.
Just the thoughts of a Gentoo-Juvenile-now-Fedora-Adult.
Michael, Hope you find a solution you like for your woes.
Steve, Stay Sassy friend.
TTFN
Matthew