Well, R* Support got back to me and requested I do the (somewhat) usual troubleshooting steps:
1. Close the application, install the latest System Software and game updates and restart the system.
2. If you have upgraded the Hard Disk Drive ("HDD") in your system, please re-install the original HDD.
3. If the error occurs again, back up your saved data, and then go to [Settings] > [Initialization] and choose [Initialize PS4].
4. If the error occurs with every application, or as soon as the application starts, please contact PlayStation Support.
Needless to say I responded telling her no way was I going to initialize my system because ther game is not working correctly. I also told them about everyone else here who is experiencing the same problem, the same error code and all of us right after the last title update. I'm waiting for a response back but I won't let it rest.
On top of all that, her suggestion to contact PS Support suggests she is dismissing this as a system problem. .....not an issue related to their product.
I will escalate if I have to. Quite frankly, I have no idea why that one save file from my son in Micrecraft was similarly affected. However, my other games are not as I've been able to play them without issue. .....I set RDR2 aside again because of this issue.
I'll keep everyone posted and again, I urge anyone having this issue to report it through R* Support.