And what is 'dreaded' about it?
I have it running all my machines except one, and that only because I haven't plugged that system in for a while.
It is no more problematic than any other Windows update.
Well there are a number of AV vendors who are reporting instability issues with the 1903 update. One of them is mine (ESET) which has a notice on its web site alerting users to the issue. So....right now I'm using Windows Defender, I've had a large number of OS issues in getting this build up and running. My ESET subscription expires in September so it might be good to look around for an AV that doesn't get indigestion when Windows updates. Meantime the upstairs computer is on 8.1 OS and is running ESET and continues to be solid (knock on wood).
I had a great time with Windows 8.1 it was my most stable OS and I am thinking hard about reinstalling it. Never had a bad thing to say about it. I even preferred the way they did the start menu. It would buy me three years. But it's "old school" and I would have to get a new key for my new machine.
Currently Win 10 is up and running and I'm holding my breath. I really felt that I was fighting against Microsoft in this build. I've never been a great enthusiast, but I've never had this many issues with a new system, and I've used MS going back to the 80s.
Greg N