This design wasn't too uncommon 20 years ago,
I was around then and, neither then nor now, have I heard of two opposoite polarity caps on DC!
the crummy "solution" on tha AC side I have seen before and, as now, detested. Two caps in series will share the charge, how is one not getting reverse charged, does it short on reverse voltage? I have never understood this, but, since I have seen it used, it must 'work'.

Old LEDs could handle huge current spikes without a problem,
and, as seen, the designs are being copied (even for white LEDs)

Old LEDs .... could run with extreme multiplexing as long as the average current wasn't too high.
and the designs are being copied for newer LEDs

there wasn't pesky laws about power factor correction of loads
which, anyhow, are usually ignored by amateurs. Chico never states "for me" or "for production"

I'm not sure if it's just some LED types that fails to short or if they normally go to open,
A LED that fail "on its own" will usually open, A LED thet fail because of overload will usually short. The techie I had then, probably replaced 1000s of LEDs and in 99% of the cases the above was true.

Erik

can anyone explain
"Two caps in series will share the charge, how is one not getting reverse charged, does it short on reverse voltage? I have never understood this, but, since I have seen it used, it must work."