Windows 10 overall is very stable but just a few days ago I did have Explorer crash in a new and interesting way like you say.
It went away and didn't come back as it usually does, so I started a new instance from the task manager. This instance seemed to be missing some kind of callback hook so when files in the directory changed it wouldn't update the display. So I would delete or paste a file, or make a new folder, and have to hit F5 to see it. If I didn't refresh then it also seemed to forget what folder it was in and paste into the wrong one, sometimes multiple times with one keypress.
It was very weird, but luckily Windows knows best and rebooted itself for an update when I went to sleep.
I agree on all of the quick access, recent etc garbage. I disabled at installs after I finally upgraded to Win 10.
I've never had Explorer crash so damn much. Another of my least-favorite features is how they group your files by recently used now. Ugh.
Then you have Quick Access, Recently Used, 'Places'....