I had my ADS enabled with a VAGcom / VCDS and it worked properly - changing the performance noticeably, aswell as changing the gear designation in the display to E for Economy or S for Dynamic etc.
Sadly Audi wiped it on a service and I then bought a Carista to re-enable it. I can confirm the Carista does NOT enable ADS - it only shows it as enabled in the MMI as you rightly stated @Shan1 but it does not alter the vehicle as it should.
I contacted Carista about this, but by the time I got around to implementing verbatim their instructions I sold my 2016 car for a 2019 car so didn't ever get it working.
Drop Carista a line and they will get back to you with exactly what to do.
