One way to test the behavior is to use the WiFi API and see if there is a difference in the behavior between the WiFi API and the USB API.
I know the WiFi API has MySettings, which can store the saved settings.
In my previous test, the stitching was not able to be saved to MySettings.
The current documentation does not indicate that the _imageStitching parameter can be saved to mySettings.
I have not tried to set the stitching with the WiFi API and then put it to sleep.
When you wake the camera from sleep, you may need to set _imageStitching or periodically check what the value of _imageStitching is and then set it if it has changed.
I will add this to a meeting agenda now.