Features and app compatibility (From another thread):
I do the 'refrain from updating' thing but to be honest it sucks. I had some Pages documents with a friend on my previous iPad and I couldn't open them because I couldn't have the latest Pages version because of my iOS version, I started to not being able to download apps and app updates due to the required version.
But if that's the price to pay so that my iPad works flawlessly, then so be it. I'll seek app workarounds. I'll tolerate the nagging. I'll transfer documents in a different way. I can't have my iPad work awfully. When I get a new one, I'll maintain it in its original version and regain ability to download apps. And so on. Or maybe I'll keep this one and update the new one when I get it, I don't know.
What I do know is, if I only have one iPad, I'll keep that one in its original version. I updated my iPad 4 and it was full of lag and general sluggishness. Now that I have my 9.7 Pro still on iOS 9 (and don't have the 4), it works flawlessly. It's too good of an experience compared to what I had to give it up for a few apps.
I wish I could just update and have it work flawlessly to be honest, but if I can't, then I have to do what I have to do.
Also, I forgot to say: The problem is unavoidable. Even if I update constantly, there will be a point (this is proven by experience and by reading everywhere) that even though it's supported, the device will start progressively lagging and working worse that how it worked before. Let's take the 9.7 Pro. Let's assume I update for app compatibility now to iOS 11. In two years, the general consensus is that iOS 13 lags this iPad too much, so I leave it in iOS 12. There will be a point where a majority of apps require iOS higher than 12. Result: iPad works worse than iOS 9, and I haven't solved the problem of app compatibility.
Yes. I know. I gained time and support if I do that because no device is supported forever. But I still have the app problem and, not only that, but with an iPad that works worse than on iOS 9.
Conclusion is: In the long term, you'll have the problem anyway, but you'll have an iPad that works worse than what it would have if you hadn't updated it to begin with.
(One more thought that occurred to me now): Updating doesn't even guarantee you app compatibility. We wanted to play a game together. I on the 9.7 Pro on iOS 9, he on an iPad Mini 1 on iOS 9. The app crashed upon launch due to lack of device power to run it. Is it "compatible"? Yes. Does it work? No. End result is the same. Newer apps crash because the OS consumes too many resources. So even on the older apps performance is hindered.
(I add this now on features): If I am willing to sacrifice a key piece of the iPad (Apps) in order to maintain performance, I'm even more willing to sacrifice features that weren't there initially. I'd like to have many features (iOS 10's Safari side-by-side; iOS 11 multitasking; iOS 12 battery details - to name a few that I want) but if that involves potentially risking my iPad to worse performance and battery life, I'll gladly forfeit features.
Security (From another thread, too):
At the expense of the most important thing - quality of use and reliability? How's worth it to have a massively secure device if it's going to take 10 seconds to open an app, will crash all the time, won't be able to enjoy it for, let's say, a relatively simple game because updates consume available resources, making the game/app crash at launch? (Has happened too many times). If battery life will make it so that at 1 PM I run out of battery because updates add visual animations and/or features that kill the battery in half the time? I'm "secure"? Yes. Am I guaranteed to be hacked? Hell no. Tell me, how many people were actually infected? I think there was one case where they tried a phishing hack on an activist but failed. There are no cases. It's perceived security. Even if they were, are they widespread? Like, for example, a WannaCry on iOS with millions of victims? No. Not ever. Not once. Is my experience good/acceptable? No. I'll take reliability and quality of use every single time.
