updating to iOS 9 from iTunes 11.4 then not allowing restore - poor performance from Apple

agreed. apple is usually pretty good at not allowing you to upgrade the software if the hardware can't support it whether its on the computers or the mobile devices. the only workarounds that worked have been crippled since once you're on 9.0.2 you can't downgrade.

I agree Apple usually puts in warnings but updating a device is different since a device is somewhat stand-alone, particularly with Apple's increased move towards iCloud services. Additionally, some computers can be upgraded to OSX10.8.5 or higher which is required by the newer iTunes, you just need to do that. Those that cannot are officially vintage or obsolete and therefore "unsupported" which means don't expect anything when using such a computer. You can continue to use them (my Mac is 13 years old) but it is 100% on you whenever you do any changes.

Workarounds:

Backup to iCloud

Download purchases directly from the iTunes Store, particularly movies.
Subscribe to iTunes Match or Apple Music to put your other music in iCloud to sync from there.

Use other services such as Dropbox to transfer other files.

Use iPhoto, PhotoStream, or Image Capture to download Camera Roll items.

but see that's what's so frustrating. even though myself and lots of other users are on itunes 11.4, itunes prompted us to update iOS without the knowledge that this would then cripple the connectivity to the iOS device. we shouldn't have been told to update it if was going to make the device incompatible afterwards.

if we would be able to downgrade our devices back to a version which would sync, then this wouldn't be as frustrating as it is now.

Maybe there's two different sets of programmers. There's the update programmers sending the upgrade notice telling any iTunes to look for a device that can be upgraded and if so have it make the request. Then there's notification programmers who get as far as questioning does this specific update affect anything still supported? Answer, "No, it does not, so nobody do anything." OSX 10.6 is no longer supported, so none of you programmers waste any time doing anything for something unsupported. Anybody running 10.6 should already be running 10.8. Anybody who can't run 10.8 is running old hardware which is unsupported. Bottom line rule is nothing is done in for unsupported things.

I am sorry but a whole bunch of older computer owners are learning the reality of old system ownership with this.

Oh, there are various workarounds I might think a really experienced and innovative computer user might try but that kind of user probably didn't let this happen to them in the first place. 🙂