I wasn't discounting it as a possibility 🙂 I sincerely value your suggestion and plan on following it unless I find a couple simpler things to try first. I've actually had a corrupted backup once a few years ago, so I know it's definitely a possibility. (Mac user since 1993, and iPhone user since beginning, so I'm familiar with Mac/Apple issues and how they can manifest themselves)
One thing that makes me hesitate to restore just yet, I also updated my iPad Mini today, which is not connected to my iPhone in any way, other than that I run a few of the same apps. It is working now since the update, but immediately after update, iPad was doing the exact same thing when opening apps. Would load, hang, and crash several times. The only difference on iPad was that eventually, the apps opened and stayed open. (I will test more apps and see if iPad is stable on all)
So luckily, I now at least have access to some apps I can't open on phone. If I didn't have iPad, as I assume most ppl won't have both, I'd still be in a major panic.
Again, I truly appreciate your suggestion. I will take those steps. Just wanted to maybe see if I can try anything else before that step. It's a time issue with work and all that. If I don't have any other options before morning, I'll do the backup and restore while I work 🙂 thx again ckuan!