Started to doubt myself so I dived into it somewhat deeper. I digged up old config xml files and figured that in the very beginning in my early steps into OPNsense I had un-ticked the "Password protect the console menu" option likely not knowing what I was doing at the time. The very early backup of the config xml contains <disableconsolemenu>1</disableconsolemenu>. Therefor I was used to the console menu at boot for about 5 years. Only the very last backup this line is no longer present in the config but I really cannot remember ticking the option and this likely happened unintentionally, hence my confusion.
Anyway thanks a lot for bringing this to my attention and sorry for the fuzz.
Anyway thanks a lot for bringing this to my attention and sorry for the fuzz.