After the SMCP is automatically created by the controller, it can be manually deleted but is not automatically recreated if the default gatewayclass exists.  If you also manually delete the default gatewayclass, you can automatically recreate both by recreating the default gatewayclass.

Perhaps if SMCP is deleted, the gatewayclass should also be automatically deleted?  Or, if the SMCP is deleted, check into why it doesn't get reconciled and recreated if the default gatewayclass exists.

    4.16

    Always

    1. Create the default gatewayclass, which automatically creates the SMCP
    2. Delete the SMCP
    3. Try to create a httpRoute
    

    SMCP is not recreated and gatewayAPI function gets broken, e.g. httpRoute never attaches to gatewayClass and never works.

    SMCP gets recreated if it is missing when the gatewayAPI controller reconciles.

    If you delete the SMCP and default gatewayClass at the same time, and then create a new gatewayClass, it will also recreate the SMCP at that time.