Most devices don't even have touch ID. Submitting an update just to fix 3-4 issues is useless. If you'd been experiencing the bug I mentioned, you'd be suprised to see how useful that animations are. It takes at least 4-5 seconds for me to switch to another app because of the freeze there. A total productivity killer. Also don't forget that they introduced that bug in 7.1, and therefore should have fixed it immediately.
Got it. Not talking about the 5s. Fwiw, I have never experienced to freeze with the task switcher.