Hello all .. haven't been to this thread in a while. Basically I too got pretty fed up with the problems with the blocks. I HAVE NOT given up though. I've continued to download the patterns (usually a full week - 10 days after published!), and will make the quilt some day. Just not now.
Will certainly continue to check back though and if I'm in-between projects (my plate is full at the moment) I might jump in and make whatever block happens to be "current" at the moment.
Good luck everyone - the blocks are looking terrific despite the authors attempts at making us mess them up
Sue