I understand that you're concerned about your phone acting up post-update when Gingerbread arrives. However, don't be worried as the main issues that we have all been having were fixed with the MR2 update. Gingerbread will bring some new goodies to all of us and that's never a bad thing. But, you should look at it from this point of view. Verizon and HTC released the MR1 half-baked and thought they had the MR2 ready. Many of us, myself included, installed the leaked MR2 update and saw very little to no problems. After upgrading to the official update, all is running as it was before.
My point is that Verizon and HTC will not release Gingerbread until it's ready. There is no reason to sit there freaking out about the one update that's like heaven on our phone. Just like Froyo, Gingerbread will come and sweep us all off of our feet.
I have a quick question for someone though. Where does Google come up with these names? Cupcake, Froyo, Gingerbread? Are they hungry?