Resolve "Follow up: Simplify sort direction logic"

What does this MR do?

Follow up task to !25231 (merged).

• Introduces sorting direction for project sorting, but also introduces duplication, this could be simpler.
• simplify sort options
• simplify common sort options
• Adds additional tests for existing behaviour

Conformity

• Changelog entry
• Documentation created/updated or follow-up review issue created
• Code review guidelines
• Merge request performance guidelines
• Style guides
• Database guides
• Separation of EE specific content

Performance and testing

• Review and add/update tests for this feature/bug. Consider all test levels. See the Test Planning Process.
• Tested in all supported browsers

Security

If this MR contains changes to processing or storing of credentials or tokens, authorization and authentication methods and other items described in the security review guidelines:

• Label as security and @ mention @gitlab-com/gl-security/appsec
• The MR includes necessary changes to maintain consistency between UI, API, email, or other methods
• Security reports checked/validated by a reviewer from the AppSec team

Closes #60798 (closed)