Using a custom mod pack including:

astralsorcery-1.12.2-1.10.27.jar
IntegratedDynamics-1.12.2-1.1.11.jar
IntegratedTunnels-1.12.2-1.6.14.jar
IntegratedTerminals-1.12.2-1.0.14.jar
integratednbt-1.2.2.jar

with the following simple setup to explain the issue that has me puzzled:

A manually placed pool of liquid starlight, 1 rock crystal within the pool, an ID entity reader and a IT Terminal (a battery and variable store not visible as well).

I made 1 Variable Card within the entity reader to grab an entity list, place the card within the terminal. It properly displays the list showing 1 crystal. However, it will never grow the crystal until I remove the variable card from the terminal.

Any use of a variable card within a entity reader, an world item importer/exporter cause AS to not grow the crystal.

It turns out disabled Performant resolved this issue. Sorry to waste time.