Mmmmhhhh… Windows ME? 
8/8.1: 26. October 2012 to 9. January 2018
ME: 14. September 2000 to 31. December 2003
Honestly having used 8.1 for years (not 8 though) I don’t see how so many people have an issue with it. Guess most people had issues with the original 8, so they didn’t even bother to try out 8.1.