Re: Very upset after kk update. What can I do aside from venting to you guys?!!
The KitKat update is not bad, it is actually very good... unfortunately what happens when you make a major operating system change like this, from JellyBean 4.2.2 to KitKat 4.4.2, even though a lot of stuff on the surface looks the same, under the hood it is very different, and some apps and configurations just don't like OS change, they mess up causing the issues you see here, quite commonly in fact. The solution in most cases is to do a factory reset, and if that fails get a warranty replacement.
Switching to an S5 so you don't have to do a factory reset isn't really a viable option, you will lose your data anyway. Do you thing Samsung, HTC, Motorola, or any other manufacturer of phone has any better luck with an upgrade? No, they don't... They cannot test the upgrade on every possible device for every possible combination of software and configurations, it is just not possible, problems will occur, Every major, and many minor, updates have issues with some of the devices irregardless of who it is, I remember when Samsung updated ICS to JB on the S3, what a fiasco for some people, WAY more issues with that than with the G2 even across all variants.
Final thought: F.A.C.T.O.R.Y...R.E.S.E.T and then enjoy your device again, and if you don't or still have troubles, go to your carrier/vendor and get a replacement, every G2 should still be under warranty.