Whomever "redesigned" the PEN TOOL functions should be fired IT'S HORRIBLE!!!

I have been using Adobe Illustrator since Illustrator 88, basically since the beginning. And for the most part I have enjoyed it's improvements. I've watched it grow into a robust program and I've used it daily since 1988 and lately I've become so incredibly frustrated with the pen tool I actually get anxious thinking about having to use the program!!!!!

It has become super difficult to select points/handles and the simple fact that I have to hit "escape" to stop drawing is absolutely retarded! It will snap to points of other shapes located nearby (Yes, I have turned off "snapping" in preferences) and when going back and clicking on a point to stop it from continuing the curve it will create another point right next the one I was trying to click on. It is super difficult to control and causes me to constantly zoom in and out so that I can make sure I clicked on the point, and not right next to it. And it often will not close a path/shape.

I'm pursuing a second career, and attending Art Center College of Design, where I also serve as a "teachers assistant". My experience with Illustrator has caught the attention of my instructors and I'm regularly asked to give demos on it's use. I regularly see the students struggle with using the pen tool. They will often switch over to using Photoshop because it is easier to control. In my demos they will see the issues I presented above and completely reject the program.

I don't know what you guys (Adobe) need to do to fix this problem, but I'm so F@&king frustrated I would gladly jump ship and use/suggest another program if one was available.

In 30 years of use I've never posted in a forum to complain about your products, but I've come to such a point of frustration I can't continue to ignore the problem.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE fix this issue!