What is the rush?

I have been a long admirer of Drupal, building sites around Drupal since version 5. I absolutely fell in love with it and its ease of use and integration. I have built sites in D5, D6 & D7. I feel compelled, as an integrator, but not a programmer, to provide my feedback.

Each version, I feel like I pick from a balance of what is mature, least buggy and has all the modules/functionality I need for the site I am building. I am currently using D7 because of the interface and promise of improved functionality. I, however, always feel like I am chasing the next version, as they get harder and harder to implement with each iteration. As I struggle with recreating a working site in D7, I wonder, "Should I go back to D6?"

Each version, there is a wait time for when the desired modules catch up enough to remove most of the issues in the issue queue, often with modules not bothering to even try and keep up, creating a loss of functionality that existed in prior versions. One area that this is really evident is in the location module (implementing proximity & Geo capability) and the other is with the media module (implementing simple user albums and galleries). Both have been very hard to figure out and integrate into what I would like to do and what I have successfully created in the past.

I feel that this CMS is quickly becoming self-defeating and a for-programmers only tool. Often I feel guilty asking for help from the module maintainers who are usually volunteering their time. There seems to never be a moment of stability across the board. Many times, the responses indicate a desire for the issue creator to assist in providing a patch. Believe me, if I could program, I would be all over it. But I can't, I've tried, I am just not wired that way.

I don't mean to sound critical, I am just very frustrated, struggling with this new site to get the functionality I have implemented with ease before. I cannot even copy it, as the modules have updated removing the code that I used. I have tried Wordpress and considered Joomla, but I *know* Drupal.

As I bang my head against the wall, I see the D9 peeking his head up out of the code and I wonder ... What hell with that bring my development? Maybe it will fix all ...

I mean what is the rush? Why not allow a more robust maturity before pushing ahead with new versions? Why not give more time for modules to become and issues to be cleared? I love this community, I love the promised functionality and I love the flexibility. But I do not love the frustration. Just my thoughts.

Thanks for listening. Peace,
Julie