1. Win8.1 won't bork your computer. 2. Win8.1 won't bork your computer. 3. Win8.1 won't bork your computer.
Windows 10 is better than 8.1 in many ways except how Windows Updates handled. I really hate automatic updating of Windows 10.
I cannot see any reason, why anyone must maintain 8, 8.1 or 7. However, very well can I understand, why in some cases is essential to maintain XP.
They are all giving their money to the same pimp - may as well choose the best looking hooker in the stable.
Windows 8.1. has many bugfixes, patches etc... since its release. Keep in mid that Windows 10 editions released until now are not "final" but still in testing phase.
10 has new shell menu, 8.1 does not. This shell fails all the time and results in inability to open apps like Start, Windows Updates, Settings and such. System memory management is another disaster, MS biggest achievement, or the biggest failure in fact. Every day I read about problems with it. The best way is to completely disable it and use Windows Update Mini Tool instead, it is way faster and keeps YOU in control. Aside from privacy issues and the new shell, 7 is way more stable and talking about performance, superior to 10, at least for now. 10 can be customized to be more lean, but not in an user friendly way. You have to fight with 10 during every step on the way.
When something fails (as you state the startmenu, settings, etcetc...) at your machine and not in general it most likely is not a general bug but something local.
Well if your rig has a lot more ram and performance wise can take the demands of Win10 then why stay with Win8.1...If you have doubts maybe you can arrange a dual-boot with your Win8.1 alongside Win10. With that you can gauge what you wanna stay with. Whatever that will make you feel comfortable with stay with it
Historically, going all the way back to Win9x, Microsoft has alternately produced a good product, then a piece of crap. The beating received after the release of the piece of crap results in the production of the next good product. Good products: 9x, XP, 7 & 10. Crap: ME, Vista & 8/8.1. I run XP, 7 and 10. When a client who has been running Vista or 8/8.1 requires a reinstall, I insist on upgrading. I'm sure others will disagree.
Yeah, actually Windows 8.1 was pretty good with Classic Shell. Without never having to see the Metro screen, everything worked just as expected. Never had any issues.