My testforum is using my real-life database but I have to switch off "save templates as file". Do you know the database table I have to take a look into? xf_addon is just for addons, and xf_option just defines the options :/
Last week I changed a setting directly in the database (and not a blob) to do something similar, I forgot if it was forum software xenforo or another one.
The setting for save templates as files is stored in xf_option but changing it there won't immediately take effect as it is cached where Rigel says (delete that row after altering the setting in xf_option)