App Store keeps crashing - iPad 1st gen iOS 5.1.1

Question

Ok, I've had this problem for months, and have been trying to fix it for ages through different threads here and other places, but nothing's worked so far.
Problem:
The App Store is extremely unstable. On average I can use it for about 2-3 mins before it crashes, and I have to start again. It does not seem to matter what I'm doing, where in the app store I am, it's been crashing across the board. This has made it very difficult, and extremely frustrating to try to search for, or download apps.
Attempted solutions:
Closing all applications
Restarting with just the power button
Restarting with power and home button
Soft reset
Restoring with iTunes (from backup)
Erase all content and settings + restore from backup
Erase all content and setting + set up as new
As you can see, I've tried different solutions with increasing degrees of severity. Even the nuclear option, and completely resetting the whole darn thing. Still, the App Store incessantly crashes after only a couple of minutes of use. At this point, I'm pretty much at a loss over what to do next.
With a few minor exeptions, every other app has been working just fine. There's no damage to the iPad.
Has anyone encountered the same problem, and been able to fix it?

Answer 1

Hi Kennethsm -
I too am having the exact same issue with my iPad and it seems to be getting worse with time.  When I have my APP STORE open it generally only for a few minutes before the application crashes/shutsdown and I have to re-open and start my app search from the beginning, which is frustrating.
I hope that at some point a representitive from APPLE comes accross this thread and provides us with a solution...SOON.
:-)  Cheers
Paul