Newest Illustrator Gradient Tool Changes, what the what? Help.

Okay, I just now updated to the newest update of illustrator and I'm trying to work on a file the same as I have for the last ten years and lo and behold, they've give a whole new set of commands to my gradient tool.

Here's the big problem that I am having.  I'll create a couple objects and set them with gradients, then I will deselect those objects.  They should be free and clear.  However, when I try to then alter the gradient I was previously using, it alters the existing deselected objects!  What the @#$(Q*#$!!!!.  I don't want objects that aren't selected to be altered.  I want to change up the gradient to apply to a new object, not the previous ones.  I want to base the new object gradient off of the previous one as a starting point.  This was never a problem before.

Secondly, I used to be able to simply drag and drop a new color over an existing color in the gradient bar.  It isn't letting me do that anymore.  Instead, it just adds the new color alongside the existing color instead of flat out replacing it.  Why??????  I truly hate when they "fix" things that weren't broken in the first place.  Help?

For an example of the kind of work I do and how in depth I use gradients, here's a look. I need my gradients to work in a user friendly way again.  I gots work to do!