third question about my new NEX8201...

i actually believe this applies to all the NEX models, and probably other pioneer lines as well.  

files and folders don't seem to be listed alpha/numerically.  they seem to appear in the order of which they were written to the storage device.  is there a way to force the NEX to display the files and/or folders alpha/numerically, or (preferably) make alpha/numeric the default?

The NEX is not the problem. It's the way windows handles file sorting on USB/SD drives (FAT32).

I had the same problem. I got a program, DriveSort, to sort the files on the USB/SD card and problem is solved.

For more info and a good tutorial on this, See this page https://techmadeplain.com/2014/how-to-sort-music-flash-drive-car-stereo/

Works mint..thanks