It's actually better performance wise, because alcohol has a higher octane than gasoline. It IS crap though, in the sense it doesn't last as long and breaks down FAR sooner than non ethanol fuel.
Its crap for a carburetor that sits in atmosphere. I've dealt with it, had to clean my pressure washer carb after it sat all winter. I live with it just like everyone else with an old vehicle. Its a ***** if you don't drive it every day.
I used to have a job where we intentionally vaporized gasoline and conveyed it to an engine. I've personally driven the CARB city and highway dyno runs hundreds of times, have been to a CARB certified facility, have multiple patents on the subject, worked with a PHD in Chemical Combustion, dealt with winter and summer fuel. Tested "up to" E10, E15, E85, and Indolene (which is what they use for certification). I've had that golden tar lab tested to see what it is (its basically very low octane jelly). Bottom line is, it is what it is, it does what it does, and you do what you can with a carburetor. But I have 11 year information so maybe that magic changed.
