Photos is not suppose to be this complicated

I dont remember doing anything. One day using iphoto, then on a upgrade photos app appeared with my pictures on it. When I moved to new 27" imac I backed up my old iphoto library onto a external HD, just in case. No iphoto on my new computer as they dont support it anymore. Photos wont let me download my external backup. My pics showed up via icloud or at least 75% of them. I think what really messed it up was icloud. Using latest OS on Imac/iphone/ipad and Itunes😕

No, but if I did Im sure it wouldnt work. I do have my iphoto library from 2000 to 2010 on a external HD. Photos handles it like another library and wont merge the pics into photos. I did the unthinkable as I was going to sign off on my icloud as they wanted more loot of course and thought this might resolve my problem of lost folders and photos and libraries out of sync. No you would think all my pictures on my imac now would be on my phone and ipad......I wish, as they are not. To be honest I thought it was just me but after much searching on line with peeps with the same problem Im beginning to think this is just a ****** program with no intuitive instructions and only made shittier by icloud. The program sent out before properly beta tested. Im going to see if I can get Iphoto app back onto my computer and delete my icloud acct and hopefully my pics might find a chronalogical order they were originally assigned to.....thanks for the advice

Looks interesting, but this is just another editing app yes? It wont hold your entire library of photos? (in order)

Im beginning to think that the old iphoto program didnt work with icloud, hence could not charge the monthly fee.