I don't want to start a fire, but I use AE almost every day, as well as Davinci/Fusion Studio and Nuke. I also run a bunch of scripts, the Maxon and Boris FX, Video Copilor, and a bunch of AE Scripts tools. My system is a current generation high-end Mac with a bunch of memory and I am careful about running other software. Number of problems that caused me to lose more than about a half hour in the last 2 years - maybe three. In every case, it was 3rd party compatibility because of the lack of an update on the outside developer's side.
I have rolled back AE a build or two a couple of times because of reported problems, but that only takes a few minutes, and I was up and running again. I have had problems with 3rd party products like Mocha Pro that caused me to use other tools for a workaround for a few days, but none of those problems caused me to fail to deliver. The only time I failed to deliver an effects or animation project on time was when I accidentally dropped my computer on a concrete floor, and it took a week and a half to fix it.
Do Adobe products require more or less maintenance than other complex and system-taxing software that I use? I don't notice any significant difference. The worst problem I had in the last two years was with Nuke. It would not run or open for about three months unless I rolled back my OS, and I did not want to do that. They finally issued an update that fixed the problem.
Most of the time, Adobe does a fairly good job tracking down problems, noting them, and fixing them. They are not perfect, but any company building systems that try to take advantage of about 90% of a computer's processing power will run into problems when users try to push systems that are not up to the system or memory requirements published by the developers.
Is After Effects magic? No. Is it the most efficient platform for all visual effects and animation projects? No. Is Nuke (the most expensive) or DaVinci/Resolve/Fusion Studio (the most affordable editing/effects/color grading system) the best all-around tool? Not for me, but each has its strengths. Could I fulfill my client's needs efficiently, deliver on time, and make a good return on my time investment with just one tool? Probably not profitably.
If I were stuck with one system or had to teach one, it would probably be the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite because it supplies almost every tool needed for any project involving illustrations, photos, and videos, and it has the easiest-to-use UI and workflows.
The DaVinci Studio bundle is also very good, but the learning curve is more complex for most people, and several tools are missing that I need in my workflow. DaVinci is slightly more forgiving on system requirements, but it's not perfect. Everything else I have looked at in the video production world is too specialized to be my only tool.
Reporting problems and communicating openly and honestly with any software company's team is the best way to get things fixed and move toward a solution. Whining and getting angry is no way to make progress. That's how third graders end up with black eyes at recess in the playground. It's not how adults solve problems.
There, I'm done with my editorial.
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