fix(org-modern): :custom for early var setup + disable org-indent-mode conflict

config.el

@@ -261,7 +261,8 @@ Bound to cmd+v in org-mode and markdown-mode."
             (lambda (_backend) (org-update-all-dblocks)))
 
   ;; Visual: hide markup, pretty entities, compact tags
-  (setq org-hide-emphasis-markers t
+  (setq org-startup-indented nil    ; disable org-indent-mode -- conflicts with org-modern star display
+        org-hide-emphasis-markers t
         org-pretty-entities t
         org-ellipsis " ▾"
         org-auto-align-tags nil
@@ -1141,16 +1142,15 @@ Otherwise: runs interactive ement-connect, then opens rooms after sync."
 ;;; ============================================================
 
 ;;; Org-modern -- modern visual style for org-mode
-;; :hook triggers lazy loading via use-package!/straight.el (critical for load-path).
-;; org-modern-table nil: table overlays can conflict with LaTeX export.
-;; org-agenda-finalize-hook: apply modern style to agenda buffers too.
+;; :custom sets vars before first activation (unlike :config which runs after).
+;; org-modern-table nil: avoids LaTeX export conflicts.
 (use-package! org-modern
   :hook (org-mode . org-modern-mode)
   :hook (org-agenda-finalize . org-modern-agenda)
-  :config
-  (setq org-modern-star '("◉" "○" "✸" "✿")
-        org-modern-table nil
-        org-modern-checkbox t))
+  :custom
+  (org-modern-star '("◉" "○" "✸" "✿"))
+  (org-modern-table nil)
+  (org-modern-checkbox t))
 
 
 ;;; ============================================================