As @Wyldanimal has recorded, the format of the playlist .vpl file has changed.

I was able to decipher the old .vpl files using a hexdump utility, so I could create an excel VBA file to read and write playlists both in the old .vpl and older-still .plf formats.

I have singularly failed to work out the new .vpl file format.
e.g.
1) Some playlists have a .vpl file which is named as is the playlist itself in the GUI, but others are named "Collection1", "Collection2" ... etc. and the playlist name is the first entry in such a generally named file.
2) I am also puzzled by the occurrence of the active and passive clips in the .vpl file. Sometimes the file consistently cited clips that I have turned off (e.g. I do not want the top-of-screen swing clips), but other playlists cite a clips that I have not turned off, and I cannot see why.
3) Older .vpl files seem to be converted to the newer format and all the clips which are turned ON are cited (i.e. these clips are NOT turned OFF)

So maybe someone could give me a hint or two?

I wrote a paper about this:
https://wyldanimal.com/files/iStripper2-playlists-explained-by-wyldanimal.txt

all PLaylists Created in version 2.0 will have the Generic file name Collection_NN.vpl


Auto-Imported Playlists will Remain Unchanged, and Not take on the collection_NN.vpl name.
You can play these playlists, with out them being altered.
Once an Imported Playlist has Been Edited in any way, it is then fully converted to the New format.
it will No longer work with Prior Versions.

to avoid this
Copy / Move all of your Legacy VPL files to a different folder. In My case I used a folder called Archived.

When you Export an iStripper 2.0 playlist, you can select a different folder to save the exported file, and also use a friendly name for the file name.

The Information in the file I shared is of my own discovery.
no one from the Team Members or the Devlopment team provide me with this information.