[BobM]

I agree, enterprise software has a pretty rational release/update schedule, mainly because the customers are large and easily pissed off, so there's a lot of direct accountability for new releases and changes.  On the other hand, I think consumer markets don't have that level of direct accountability and you end up with the type of stuff mentioned here.

Perfect response - I also do this for a living, so know where you are coming from.

Enterprise software, or software sold to large banks, corporations, etc for critical use often have a large list of requested changes that need to be prioritized accommodated in their annual release process. You rarely see any UI changes in that stuff. The customer would kill you if there was any major change in how it works, and they generally keep the same look and feel on any new modules that are rolling out.

But in consumer products it is almost a given that the interface changes with each release. Supposedly to improve usability, but with Win 8 as an example, it doesn't always turn out that way. I truly wish there was more independent testing done there. But even then it would be near impossible to turn things around after development has started, so we get what we get.

[MaxCast]

I agree updating ui can make me go 

A couple examples
Apple ios7.  Scroll wheels got slimmer, harder to move the right one with the finger and skinny numbers, harder to read.

Win8.  When I first saw it I thought it would be great for mobile.  Then I had to teach my dad how to use it and I didn't have enough life left.  Put him on the classic overlay...or whatever you call it.  Disappearing icons/menus should be an option to go to, not standard.

I really believe some iu changes are for the sake of change.  Sometimes things work well and don't need to be messed with.

Oh yeah, the OSX scroll bar, wtf.  Same with quick books.  They made the scroll bar so skinny that if pisses me off every time I use it.