I'm as perplexed as you are. These new containers are totally unworkable as far as I'm concerned (for all the reasons you mentioned), and like you, I and others I know have been dumping new orders back into my old containers - or in some cases, new ones I purchased for easier stacking, shelf space, etc. I hope it's just a temporary abberation.

I say we all start a letter writing campaign to the company to protest the change and ask for the old containers back. Maybe they thought having a handle would make them easier to carry. Meh.