update to IOS5.1

I had the worst experience while updating my Iphone4 to IOS5.x

I had always been delaying this update decision, as I had a hunch that something unnecessarily wrong is going to happen - plus ofcourse I had an aversion to using archaic technologies requiring your devides to be 'connected' to different System having particular software (read Itunes) which will support the update process --- especially when most modern devices offer the update-on-the-fly option

Never the less - I connected my Iphone to my Windows Laptop with the latest version of ITunes downloaded specially for this purpose. I sync'ed my phone, downloaded the new IOS5.1.1 and clicked on the update option. I had already backed up my purchases and sync'ed the phone with the fear that incase something goes wrong - I'm covered. My System took 4 hrs to download the new IOS5.1 and finally said - yes: We're ready to update. While updating - everything seemed to be happening fine - My Iphone restarted and and there were messages on my Windows System stating that my system is ready to use. Then all of a sudden- I got an Error Message# 9 (Some thing to do with USB Port connection) and before I could do anything - the entire process turned wild. Itunes - simply said: there's no iphone detected to the PC and the my Iphone screen showed an image of a USB Cable and ITUnes logo. I tried connecting to a new USB port and Itunes responded that the Iphone has now gone to a 'Recovery mode' and I must click Restore to update to LATEST IOS software and my last synch'ed state.

I clicked on Restore and now my Itunes says - It needs another 4 hrs to download the IPhone Software update and then carry out the restore and update process again. This is so ridiculous - I just waited 4 hrs to download the update software.

Lesson learnt - never connect this iphone to a window's PC.

However - I am particularly worried about this Recover process now. Not only is my phone totally useless till my Windows PC RE-Downloads the new IOS and updates the Iphone (i.e. approx 4+1 = 5 hrs of downtime: i.e. 5 hours of no phone) also - I see a good possibility that this problem will recurr when I do the restore process. There is nothing wrong with my USB ports and my Windows PC - have had no trouble with these functions over the past 6 mths since I bought this machine.

My question - what can I do to safely restore my system back to normalcy.... Frankly i don't even care much about IOS5.... I just want the phone back in working order. 4 hours downtime - just because an update failed for whatever reason is RIDICULOUS, but more important question - how do i ensure that this doesnot happen again.

Another question - If iphone update software was just downloaded on my system, and the update process goes haywire - why does Itunes download the same software again.... why not simply use the earlier downloaded patch. Or is there something I'm doing terribly wrong

Question to the Apple Development/Product Management Community (i.e. if the thread is being monitored): When are we looking at an improvment in the IOS update process. Is there a cue to be learned from competitor products offering update on the fly option (I had a wonderful experience updating OS version of a competitor product to their latest 4.0.1 version - update to a completely new platform on the fly... I was so amazed with the entire effortless and seamless experience infact, that I vowed to update all my smart devices to latest versions......).