Also a lot of people hate on macOS changes, I myself did not upgrade to the latest version.
Windows 8 is fundamentally just Windows 7 with a full screen start menu. This is a dumb usability downgrade, but unless you went out of your way to install Metro apps, it wasn't such a big change. Your apps worked the same way they always had.
Indeed, it does run like crap on older phones. You made the right choice. I don't feel forced to upgrade my phone but the new OS definitely drains the battery faster and feels slightly sluggish, making me regret the "upgrade."
Agree that iOS 26 is trash and it empty my iPhone 13 mini battery in less time than I need to write it.