If you missed it, Cenx has already confirmed that Autopause outside of settings is going away on PC once 1.4/JE arrives. This will be the case on all other platforms as well.
Additional left stick jump options (including "the old way") and autoswing as a non-default option are coming in the next update/fixes. We are hoping this makes everyone happy.
Unplayable? Not even remotely close to true and you know that. Totally get the complaints, thus why they are being acted upon, but the hyperbolic melodrama is just over the top. It is quite intriguing how so many other people have been able to adapt and play it quite well indeed.
What you had was also best-described as a watered down Terraria Lite version of the game. So, it becomes a question of choices, right? Do you want more capability or do you want super simple? Do you want a true authentic experience "just like everyone else" or do you want it watered down "because its mobile"? And so on.
I am about as noob of a mobile gamer as you will find. I'm also a long time Terraria player. What you have now - though admittedly needing some fixes and tweaks that are coming - is finally a true, legit Terraria for mobile with no corners cut. Everyone used to the litany of cut corners and design nerfs on the old version - yeah, its gonna take some getting used to.
We hear you on the controls, which is why you saw flight this week and will see jump and more in the next update.
Not trying to sound harsh or rude, if it sounds that way - just giving a perspective.