Restoring the states depends on the recorder. What are your settings regarding the recorder?

Edit: reference https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/recorder/

I know it’s different, but if I wouldn’t know home assistant I could have assumed it had something to do with USB

To be honest having an information about the actual percentage state of opening is actually useless anyway. I just need the information if it’s properly closed which could be achieved with a simple reed relay.

Having the sensor on the moving parts also comes with other challenges anyway. I used a cheap curly telephone cord to connect the sensor to the ESP8266 but it’s actually already worn out and thus hanging low when the door is open, as the normal state is that it is extended when the door closed

I installed an ultrasonic Sensor at the lowest segment of the garage door. It mostly does it’s job, though it is unreliable when the door is fully open, as the sensor tilts towards the open end and the distance is then too long. Also someone standing in the opening might block the sensor.

How is battery life in this cold environment?