I actually hadn't checked because I keep them turned off normally. I just did and I'm experiencing the same as you - it shows as enabled in the ini but they're off in-game unless I do /shadows on.

I'm at a loss to explain why it'd update the ini but not use the setting there. Maybe someone else has an idea?

Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.

-Mcoy

Well thank you for trying it at least and seeing what im seeing - baffles me also and i think that is why im trying so hard to fix it lol ! guess ill just keep a hotkey button and click that as soon as i get ingame lol ! thanks again !

Seems that this setting doesn't save, quite a shame as the game looks a lot better with it.
I've ended up with adding the command at the end of some macros (long duration buffs/gate and so on):