Upgrade is different from upgrade distribution. If you upgrade it will
install newer packages that are the repositories for your current
distribution version. This is a common misconception.

Update means only update the package list. Upgrade means install newer
packages. Upgrade distribution means to upgrade to the next higher version
of your distribution. So, go ahead and upgrade and see if it will improve
your situation.

BTW, the "horror" stories are greatly exaggerated and many come not from
users but from people who just don't like Ubuntu to begin with and they
write this same stuff about every version. It is like the National Enquirer.
One person has a problem and then it is all blown way our of out of
proportion by people with an axe to grind. I am not saying to upgrade to
9.10. All upgrades in any OS can be problematic for people who were
basically satisfied before they upgraded as any little thing that goes wrong
is seen as cataclysmic. Most people who are happy should not upgrade.

If people want the latest application releases without risk they should use
the last stable version and enable the backports in the repositories.