Say what you will about the new version, but the old version of System Preferences was certainly not "chaotic". I found it very pleasant to look at and navigate.

This new thing violates much of Apple's own HIG, and despite running Ventura for half a year, I still find myself hunting for things that should be easy to find. Quick: where do you go to turn the volume menubar control on or off?

I type "volume" in the search field and pick the right option?

Now do it with a cup of coffee in one hand and a mouse in the other.

Maybe they should make special operating systems just for people who constantly hold something in their one hand while clicking around with the other.

I agree. In the old SP I usually used spotlight to find what I wanted as quickly as possible. Now, I usually still do. The practical difference is negligible. I have no trouble finding the settings I want to modify, and a rarely have a need to modify any.

My response is similar for the other complaints I see here. I can ignore new features I don't like. I've got integration with my phone and watch that took zero effort. No need to waste time on drivers, etc. If I want to run Photoshop I can.

(I've used Macs since the original Mac Plus with one one-year Windows interlude. For servers I use Linux, which is obviously appropriate for that use.)