This is quite an unusual situation, and I wonder if you haven't stumbled upon a bug (possibly known?). I hope the TF 4134 does you right, which would mean the bug WAS fixed - it just wasn't generally released due to the query plan regressions the fix caused. That actually sounds probable. But I was DEFINITELY disappointed to see that TF4134 was NOT bundled under 4199. Perhaps because it wasn't a true "performance fix", but still..

As for me, I have had a horrifically bad year from a medical standpoint. I have lost 60-70% of potential billable hours since May when I had a surgery that went south. Quality of life is still awful, I still have to take percocet and do other things to help mitigate the pain and discomfort, and a specialist said a month ago "there's nothing we can do right now. but the pain and other effects usually resolve themselves over time". If/when that happens I may well have to go under the knife again to address the original issue that actually didn't get fixed. 🙁

Other than all that, and the significant emotional and psychological issues that go with it, things are actually pretty decent. Thankfully my long-term standing clients have stuck by me. Family support has been great too.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger, right?!?

I hope things are better in your world?!?