Wow, that sounds like a frustrating experience! Dealing with login issues after an update is never fun, especially when it involves display drivers and kernel configs. Reminds me of that feeling when you're just trying to relax and play something simple like Snow Rider 3D but technical issues get in the way. I hope you find a solution or a more stable distro soon. It's a bummer when a long-term relationship with a system goes sour. Good luck!