It's not dumb if you read directly from said company

apple

that this update will improve your device with performance enhancements and bug fixes. How would average joe not want the update if it promises improvements, but instead cripples the device?
There's nothing dumb in wanting that update. Especially since it claims to make your device better.
What's dumb is expecting Apple to be right. If you're ignorant of how this stuff works, you'd be well advised to educate yourself. If you have old hardware, if you're barely supported, if your phone is so old that it won't receive iOS 9, then blindly updating is just pure ignorance. Software companies always need to draw the line somewhere. There will always be hardware that is just too old for the update. And hardware new enough to not be a problem. It's the in-between stuff. If you support it, one crowd gets angry because it sucks and doesn't have the performance they're used to. If you don't support it, another crowd gets angry that they can't load it and decide for themselves if it's good enough or not (think Siri and the iPhone 4).
You can't please everyone. So, if you're one of those people on the cusp of your device being too old, you should NEVER blindly apply updates. Regardless of what Apple has to say. That's a good rule of thumb to follow if you're talking about iOS devices. Or OS X devices for that matter. Or Windows phones or Android phones. Same goes for Window itself (the desktop version). Or pretty much any other consumer electronics that receives OS updates.
It's a tough lesson to learn if you're now stuck with a device that doesn't perform to your expectations. But it's one you need to learn because it's an issue that isn't going to go away. And until the day comes that Apple lets you downgrade, you should always wait to see how others with the same device are reacting before deciding if you want to load that new software or not.
I'm not defending Apple not letting you downgrade. And if you're an early adopter with new software, there IS a small window for you to downgrade. It should be longer. Or doable through a Genius Bar appointment (in my opinion). Still, the end user is presented with a choice. They can accept that update or not. And if they choose to accept it, and have no real clue what they're getting themselves into, that's sad, but at the end of the day, THEY choose to hit Install. No one else. And regardless of what the message might be on the screen, they're the ones ultimately responsible for pushing the button. I have no problem with someone who does so, doesn't like the results and asks how to go back. I have seriously major issues with people who push the button, then want to blame someone else for the results. If you don't know what the hell you're doing, educate yourself or shut the f up and accept your part in the debacle. To say that Apple is almost criminal rubs me the wrong way. Not because someone is picking on Apple, but because they don't have the balls to admit they were wrong for pushing a button when they didn't truly understand the consequences.