--variations-server-url= switch doesn't work under Command Line String via QA developer settings

[kjozwiak]

Description

Looks like --variations-server-url= doesn't work when it's added into Command Line String. Examples:

• --variations-server-url=https://no-thanks.invalid still pulls the production seed/variations after restarting
• --variations-server-url=https://variations.bravesoftware.com/seed still pulls the production seed/variations after restarting

Even though the above appear in brave://version when used, we're still pulling the seed/variations from production. This bug is making it really difficult to QA anything related to Griffin unless the changes are uplifted into production.

This was reproduced by @srirambv @GeetaSarvadnya and myself so it's definitely an issue.

Steps to reproduce

1. launch and version of Brave
2. go into Developer options -> QA Preferences
3. tap on Command Line String
4. insert/type one of the following

* --variations-server-url=https://no-thanks.invalid
* --variations-server-url=https://variations.bravesoftware.com/seed

5. restart Brave twice and go into brave://version to make sure that you pulled the seed/variations

You'll notice that we're still pulling the seed/variations from production. For example, using --variations-server-url=https://no-thanks.invalid` shouldn't pull anything form production.

Actual result

--variations-server-url= should be working when added into Command Line String

Expected result

Adding --variations-server-url= into Command Line String doesn't work.

Issue reproduces how often

100% reproducible using the above STR.

Version/Channel Information:

• Can you reproduce this issue with the current Play Store version? Yes
• Can you reproduce this issue with the current Play Store Beta version? Yes
• Can you reproduce this issue with the current Play Store Nightly version? Yes

Device details

• Install type (ARM, x86): ARM
• Device type (Phone, Tablet, Phablet): Samsung S10+ (phone)
• Android version: Android 11

Brave version

• Nightly 1.32.44 Chromium: 94.0.4606.71

Website problems only

• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Shields? N/A
• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Rewards? N/A
• Is the issue reproducible on the latest version of Chrome? N/A

Additional information

CCing @SergeyZhukovsky @bsclifton @anthonypkeane

[srirambv]

Verification passed on Oppo Reno 5 with Android 11 running 1.30.89

• Verified terminal command worked as expected for variations server
  
• Verified terminal command worked as expected for invalid server
  

Test case1 : using https://variations.bravesoftware.com/seed

• Verified setting the URL path and starting brave there was no variation/seed shown on first launch
• Verified second restart of Brave, seed from https://variations.bravesoftware.co/seed were listed listed under brave://version

First Launch	Second Launch

Test case 2: using https://no-thanks.invalid

• Verified setting the URL path and starting brave there was no variation/seed shown on first launch
• Verified second restart of Brave, seed from https://variations.bravesoftware.co/seed were listed listed under brave://version

First Launch	Second Launch