Well, stuff like this used to be encoded in HIGs (Human Interface Guidelines). The GNOME HIG, back in the day, had the parent's recommendation, as well as the rationale for it: so that the feedback is immediate, and the user can then visually see the effect that that option has.
Gating it on a submit forces a user who is looking for something & not finding it into a "try one thing, submit, evaluate, open settings, undo that, try different thing, submit…" loop, which is a lot longer.
Gating it on a submit forces a user who is looking for something & not finding it into a "try one thing, submit, evaluate, open settings, undo that, try different thing, submit…" loop, which is a lot longer.