I ran the live update.exe 3 times with the same results
"Same result" is not any clearer than "updated the same thing again". Have you read my previous explanation about SOME files are SUPPOSED to be always downloaded, without this being an indication of a problem ?
It updates GSX PRO. I just ran MSFS and GSX works fine except it will not connect to Simbrief.
That doesn't mean you haven't updated but, most likely, you don't have a flight plan or placed the wrong username in it. This update will just fix a crash that previously happened in this situation. If you don't get a crash but, instead, a text message telling you about the problem under the "Reload SimBrief" button, then you HAVE the latest update.
Also what date is the updated manual? The one I see is 13 Sept. 2022.
Since the previous one was date August, then yes, you DO have the latest manual, it's just the manual was ready a week before the rest of the update but, obviously, we couldn't release the updated manual before the update itself: THAT would have been confusing.