We found the issue with product variants and it has been fixed.  A new cart build v2.91 will be availible tomorrow and will include this bug fix along with the following new features:
    - Define shipping costs by postal code/zip code
 
    - Define shipping costs by weight
 
    - New product variant control type - textbox
 
    - Copy product variant management screen
 
    - New credit card settlement button on the manage orders screen