-e: when upgrading from 2018.2 the UI sample package control scene fails with NaN values

-repro:
--create a new project with 2018.2.6
--get the Unity UI Samples project from A$
--open the "Controls" scene
--notice it all works
--close project
--open with latest 2018.3 version
--open controls scene and press play
--NOTICE it fails to render any UI elements and errors are thrown:
---transform.localPosition assign attempt for 'InputField Input Caret' is not valid. Input localPosition is { NaN, NaN, 0.000000 }.