I avoided upgrading my iPad 2 because earlier ones degraded performance. I was forced to upgrade before I could change a password and it really sucks now. My first and last Apple product.
8.1 really slowed down my 4s, but 8.1.1 did a good job of addressing that issue.
Wow... just wow. Your single experience, without giving them a chance to fix the problem with the fixit upgrade. Do you realize how ridiculous that is? Apple's products usually get faster and better with each update. That is history. You had ONE experience and you think that is the case in all updates? Try again. Get the updates. They FIX THINGS. There is a reason why Apple has the best customer service reputation in the world. . . and it isn't because they break their product with updates, 2nd. Be Logical, for Pete's Sake.