Backup: it depends.
If you only use standard plugins from de plugin feed on the box, you can use autobackup in the menu, which should be sufficient. It backs up all configuration, and the list of installed plugins, which can be restored automatically after a new flash.
If you do all sorts of manual things, installing ipk's you've downloaded, store other data on the box, etc, you can also use the backupsuite, which makes a full image backup, which you can flash to restore the backup. Most people don't need this.
No idea what you mean with "user auto bouquets".
Doing a software update in a release image is safe. Code hardly ever changes in a release image, only if we need to backup a fix. Most of the updates are "data", from picons to the list of transponders on satellites, or DVB-T mux frequencies (both needed when you scan).
In case of a new release version ( say we would release 8.4 ), software update would block automatically, and would tell you to make a backup and flash to upgrade to the new release.
In case of a new major release ( like the 9.0 release that is due any day ) you can't even update, you have to flash.
Currently in use: VU+ Duo 4K (2xFBC S2), VU+ Solo 4K (1xFBC S2), uClan Usytm 4K Ultimate (S2+T2), Octagon SF8008 (S2+T2), Zgemma H9.2H (S2+T2)
Due to my bad health, I will not be very active at times and may be slow to respond. I will not read the forum or PM on a regular basis.
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