Ugh, the Adobe struggle is real. Spent all last summer editing a documentary series and Premiere kept nuking my cache files right when I was exporting. Totally get why you are stressed. Once I made the switch to a different workflow, my edit times dropped by like half. Honestly, DaVinci Resolve is the way to go if you want stability, plus the free version is basically professional level stuff without the subscription trap. Here is what I moved to once I hit my breaking point:

• DaVinci Resolve 19 Studio. The AI color match feature is so smooth, it handles shots from my Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro perfectly without needing a total restart.
• Topaz Video AI. If your source footage from the coffee shop is shaky or needs a bit of a resolution bump, this thing basically works magic on quality.
• Runway Gen-2. I use this for the weird, trippy background effects when the client wants something artsy but I dont have time to build it from scratch. Working with this stack makes me feel way more in control. No more random crashes while trying to fix white balance. Honestly, I started using a Samsung T7 Shield 4TB Portable SSD to keep my cache off the system drive too, which helped stop the lag entirely. Give it a shot, its way less of a headache when you have a deadline breathing down your neck.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I swear by Wondershare Filmora 13 Perpetual License for quick freelance gigs. Its auto-reframe saves me hours, and honestly, the performance is super solid.

Premiere is a total headache sometimes, I feel your pain. After burning out on Adobe, I found these way more reliable for the quick stuff. In my experience, keep it simple so you dont crash your rig again.

• Descript Pro Annual Subscription is amazing for text-based editing.
• CapCut Desktop Version 4.0 does decent auto-captions for free. Honestly, just dont overcomplicate your workflow. Sometimes the simplest tools keep you from losing your mind.