It is as you said, the * is just there cause probably UI-Related things, so you can add the first or additional names.
The presets you can save, only saves the “allow partial match”-setting and the names provided. It is not saving the “search in”-boxes.
If you start the desynthesis, miqo will go with each name in the list and desynthesize each item which matches this criteria. So if you have “Lakeland” and “Ravel Keeper’s”, ticked the box for allow partial match and just ticked the “inventory” box. Then miqo will first desnythesize all Equip which contains the word “Lakeland” (Holminster Switch Equip) and after that it will continue with all Equip with “Ravels Keeper’s” (Qitana Ravel Equip).
If you just have a * in it, miqo wont desnythesize anything.