[lorenzhs]

Neue Rechtschreibung makes things simpler when learning the language. It's only hard to internalize the changes, but esier when learning from scratch. It brings spelling and pronunciation in line. For example, daß doesn't make any sense if you know that "ß" is preceded by a long vowel whereas "ss" (as n the new spelling, dass) is preceded by a short one.

Others have already noted that the other things you mentioned may not be as bad as they seem to you.