With each update things change a little bit, things get tweaked. Nothing has stayed the same. Has it? Do you remember before Sprinting? or Sheep re-growing wool? or even potions and enchants?
Everything has, and everything will, change. It is always great that it does change. It keeps you interested, keeps you playing and keeps it fun. Even if you don't like that update. 1.4 looks like it will be a b**ch of a change, because of more challenges and it toughens the game again.
As well as that, Mojang are genii (or geniuses), they have thought of many brilliant ideas that bring back useless/ignored things. Like Cobblestone with cobble walls, pig riding is usable, leather can be dyed, ink sacs for writeable books, etc.
Most people hate 1.4 due to new sounds, nerfed mobspawners, fear of the wither(Have you seen that crazy Bada**! )
Would you still play minecraft if it had never updated since 1.0.0? I doubt it.
