This is an expected behaviour because the option is validateTheGenerate

If there is no input collection, it would be generateThenGenerate

> If you set validate then generate to false, but leave your input directory defined (not commented out), it still stops, saying there are no collections available.

It will work if there are collections under the "./collection" folder. It will raise an error in the other case.
Express Generator uses the "--input" option to switch between the "Generate" and "Validate" modes.

> Currently, you'd have to generate a collection first, then go back and change the settings file to include it in a validate then generate workflow.

The best way to generate strategies with some options and to validate them with other options is to set your workflow in a ".cmd" file under windows or a  ".sh"  file under macOS or Linux.

input = ./collections/
validate_then_generate = true

Stops with message: There are no loaded collection records!

If you set validate then generate to false, but leave your input directory defined (not commented out), it still stops, saying there are no collections available.

input = ./collections/
validate_then_generate = false

Stops with message: There are no loaded collection records!

;;input = ./collections/
validate_then_generate = false

Continues to generate normally

Currently, you'd have to generate a collection first, then go back and change the settings file to include it in a validate then generate workflow.

If there are no collections available to re-validate, can it just continue to generate a new collection instead of stopping?

Thanks.