Metronome audio click output doesn't persist

The output setting for the metronome audio click does not persist after closing Cubase 11 Pro (Win10) when using a “Default” outputs audio connection preset. The connections preset is automatically used when a new project is created, but the audio metronome output routing is un-set for the project. Is there any way to have this persist so that one does not have to set it each time a new project is created?

to the best of my knowledge that kind of thing is intended to be done via Saving a Project Template File