How to permanently delete Sonoma aerial wallpapers?

Plausible temp solution.

Create dummy folder for the 3 files Aerial.sqlite, Aerial.sqlite-wal, Aerial.sqlite-shm and move them to the folder.

This removes the available downloads so that it stops downloading automatically.

I believe this breaks the circuit that works with queries.

Pardon the wrong technical terms if any.

I want the wallpapers gone because I dislike them greatly. I have dozens of much higher quality (as wallpapers go) because they are simple and non-distracting, non-entertainment. I've been struggling to get rid of them for a long time. Additionally, the Sonoma wallpaper system is broken in many ways. The worst is that it keeps putting back that default wallpaper of some vineyard somewhere.

I think I finally found an answer, although it is terribly kludgy.

WARNINGS

BEFORE YOU START THIS, BE AWARE OF THESE THINGS; READ THEM ALL

• If all you want is to delete the downloaded live wallpapers to save space THIS IS NOT THE WAY. Go find other posts for that.
• If you want to be rid of the downloaded wallpapers AND stupid selection thumbnails for all those stupid wallpapers, then find a different post for deleting, AND do the steps below.
• The Sonoma wallpaper selection pane (in Settings) might not work. Ever. Sometimes it does.
• Because of the above, if you can, set some wallpapers that you do like (wallpapers of your own choosing). Those are stored in separate places and will continue to function.
• If you want to switch between your chosen wallpapers, you might have only a moment to do so before the selection pane shuts off.
• THIS IS A ONE-WAY PROCESS. I know of no way to undo these steps. You might be able to save a copy of the database, but I'll leave that up to you.
• ANYTHING YOU DO HERE OR BREAK IS YOUR PROBLEM. I will not be available for fixing your machine if you break something. Be especially careful with the ROOT terminal.

Having said that, I am perfectly fine with all the above. I just want to be rid of the stupid wallpapers and selection process that Apple has foisted on me.

You may not be of the same opinion. If so, don't do this.

TLDR version:

If you already know what you're doing: Make the Aerial SQLITE database writable and delete all fields within all tables that can be deleted. Yes, I'm aware this is like using a sledge hammer to squish a stinkbug. Restart the wallpaper system.

DETAILED version

All terminal commands below should NOT include the double quotes.

1. Open up the terminal
2. use the command "sudo bash" to get a root terminal
3. install the SQLITE DB browser you can find at https://sqlitebrowser.org/dl/
4. from the terminal (where you are running root) run the command: "cd /Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.idleassetsd"
5. from the root terminal run the command: "chmod 777 Aerial.sqlite*" to make the wallpaper database editable. (666 might work, I just didn't try it)
6. from the root terminal start the SQLITE DB browser you installed above by using the command: "open /Applications/DB\ Browser\ for\ SQLite.app"
7. Inside DB Browser, click on File|Open Database.
8. Navigate to folder from step 4 and open the Aerial.sqlite database.

Here is the fussy bit:

1. Click on Browse Data.
2. You'll see a dropdown called Table. This lets you browse each individual table.
3. THIS IS THE NUCLEAR STEP: In every table highlight all cells EXCEPT the first column (you can't change those). Empty those highlighted cells by hitting the delete key. Not all tables have data to be deleted or data you can delete. Delete what you can. Repeat for each table.
4. From the DB Browser app menu, click Close Database, and then quit.
5. Start your Activity Monitor application. Search for Wallpaper. Highlight each process and click the X button. A menu will pop up, so click "Force Quit".
6. Lastly, use the command "exit" in your root terminal so that you don't accidentally leave a root terminal lying around (doing so is WAAAAY too dangerous).

Your wallpaper system might work again, it might not. But the Wallpapers will be gone from the selection window.

An easy to continue setting your own wallpapers is to browse them in finder, open the image in Safari, and use the right-click menu to Use the Image as Desktop Picture.