I'm using a 256GB compact flash drive, formatted in NTFS with about 8000 songs on it. My files are mostly FLAC, with about 1000 256KB MP3s. I have separate FLAC and MP3 folders with Artist/Album/Song folder structure beneath the 2 top level folders. My ID3 tags are all in good shape. It works great, except restarting from USB.
I tried a bunch of things on the Ranger that didn't work. I finally boiled it down to a test setup. I used an older 1GB drive and a new Sandisk 32GB drive. I formatted both in NTFS, FAT and FAT32 and used the same 10 MP3 files for every try. Bottom line - It would restart from USB about 1 in 5 times and didn't matter what drive or format I used.
My partner had a 2017 Jeep Compass and now has a 2022. Using my flash drive, or any flash drive, in her car it will restart from USB every time. UConnect seems to start playing from any source quite a bit faster than Sync 3. If Chrysler can do it why can't Ford? Of course her UConnect system has quite a few other problems, so it's not nearly perfect.