The bug
This affects, at least, all text in dialogs and the server list MOTDs.
This does not affect chat, written books, signs, name tags, or text displays.
Steps to reproduce
Run this command:
/dialog show @s {type:"minecraft:notice",title:"",body:{type:"minecraft:plain_message",contents:\\["Line 1\\\\n",\\[{sprite:"block/grass_block_side"}\\],"\\\\n",\\["Line 3",{sprite:"block/grass_block_side"}\\]\\]}}
Expected Behaviour
The dialog body should say
“Line 1“;
Then, on a new line, a grass block side sprite on its own;
Then, on a third line, “Line 3“ followed by another grass block side sprite.
Observed Behaviour
Only the first and third lines appear. The lone sprite on the second line does not show up at all. This happens no matter how many object text components are on the second line, and adding a whitespace character does not affect the problem, only visible text makes it visible.
Environment
Java 21.0.7, Linux
I can reproduce this issue. Notably if there are any normal glyph characters in that line of text then the sprites render as expected.