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I repeat - there is something wrong. I have the same lens and an x-t5 and do not experience any sharpness problems. It may be that there are problems with a 150-600 lens, I don't know, but mjoseph67 is using the 16-55. Make sure the af is set to focus priority and that you do not have af with mf set (if you have you could be accidentally moving the focus ring after autofocus). If that doesn't help get your camera and lens checked out.

Had my XT5 since launch a total joy to use

Having had an x-t5 for several years, I can honestly say that I have absolutely never encountered this problem. The only failures I see are when tracking moving subjects and even then not often. So, in my experience, this is definitely NOT typical for the x-t5. Certainly not for static subjects at least. Nothing to do with sharpness, but did you mean ISO 800? 80 doesn't make much sense with the x-t5. That would be within the extended range where you will get less dynamic range. Either you are doing something wrong or there is something wrong with your camera or lens. Do you have the release/focus priority for af-s set to focus? If not that might be the problem. Also, it is not a good idea to have the face/eye detection on when there is noone in the shot.

That is typical for the X-T5, I was having a significantly worse hit rate before the last two firmware updates. A non-moving scene with a clear, central subject, plenty of light and contrast, single point AF in S mode, completely out of focus (even though it gave focus confirmation in the viewfinder) . That was with modern lenses like the XF 18/1.4 and Viltrox AF 13/1.4. It was occurring more like one in 20 photos. I still have wildly varaiable results with the XF 150-600 and C mode AF when shooting birds, sometimes it's better to have subject detection (bird) off, sometimes on. It's very frustrating out in the field and has lost me several lifetime opportunities. I like the 40MP sensor and the results when it works well, but I contemplate selling the X-T5 and purchasing an X-H2S in it's place. That seems more economically sensible than a wholesale switch to another brand for bird photography. Additionally, the recently publicised tech documents from Fuji about the AF and settings for various subjects and lens types seems to have made my X-T5 and XF 150-600mm slightly to moderately worse for bird photography.

What aperture and where was the focus point?

I really like the 90/f2 - especially now that I have camera with IBIS - its a very personal thing but I'd go for the extra reach

I too have that lens but have not seen this behavior - I'm replying to see if others have answers.