This is also what we suspect. Since if we enable nonce either manual input in the site settings, or enabling it in Power Pages' website maker, the backend script changes to include nonces in them. When you remove the nonce, it returns back to the original script. We suspect that this change also brings the setting to inject these SHA-2 hashes in the website and are a functional or stylistic requirement by Power Pages for it to run.
The complication here is, you're correct, that there is no documentation to support this claim. I've already opened a ticket with Microsoft but I've yet to receive a response from them. I hope it all goes well.
Without this reference from Microsoft, we do not have any justification for our IT security team to let us pass their VAPT testing. It's already been a frustrating set of weeks trying to figure things out.
Could you advise us if our assumption is correct?
Regards,
apangeles_