Can't sync podcasts ios7.0.3 - terrible

Question

Just got my 5S with iOS 7.0.3 and I can't sync a single podcast.
I'm using Windows 7 Pro, iTunes 11.1.1.11, Podcast App 2.0
I have a large quantity of downloaded podcasts that I've been syncing for years
with iPods, iPhones, and iPads - everything has worked perfectly until now.
I do not sync/download podcasts from within an app - I have a separate
program on my PC to download and manage them.
I do not subscribe to Podcasts via my Apple products or iTunes because my wife and I share
our libraries.
(Meaning using an alternative app like Downcast will not work as it cannot sync existing podcasts via iTunes)
No matter what I do, as long as Podcasts are of Kind "Podcast", they won't sync.
I've tried:
1) Uninstalling/reinstalling the Podcast App multiple times
2) Syncing podcasts 'Automatically' with every option - 'all', 'all unplayed', 'recent unplayed', etc, etc
3) 'Include Episodes from Playlists'
4) and more.
After syncing, I've noticed in iTunes, under my Device, I can see all the podcasts in either the 'Podcast' link or the various Playlists (depending on what I've tried)
However, the Podcast App on the iPhone simply will not show them - as groups, or playlists, or anything.
The most I've ever gotten is a single Podcast mislabeled and with the wrong Artwork.
If I change all my Podcasts to Kind "Music" (or 'Audiobook') then I can get them into the Music player, but then I lose all my storage organization in iTunes - the 'Podcast' Library item becomes useless.
I've been an Apple user since the Apple II so I'm no nubie.
This is the worst junk Apple has ever turned out - whoever worked on it should be fired immediately - and I mean coders, managers, directors - all of them.
All I want to do is sync Podcasts from my PC library to my BRAND NEW EXPENSIVE iPhone the same way I can with music.
Does anyone have any ideas what else to do?

Answer 1

UPDATE:
I have *kind of* solved the problem.
Basically the problem is a lack of proper ID3 Tags in the old podcast files.
I've read a lot other threads and articles and this is what you can do.
1) Download and install Mp3tag - it's a free Tag editing utility
2) Using Mp3tag, open the podcast file or directory with the old podcasts
3) Select 1 or more podcasts in the list and then 'Extended Tags' (right click or View -> Extended Tags)
4) Add the following tags and values if they don't exist:
     a) tag=COMMENT ITUNPGAP  value=0
     b) tag=PODCAST  value=1
     c) tag=PODCASTURL  value=<use the actual URL i.e. http://sawbones.libsyn.com/rss>
     d) tag=PODCASTID  value=<any value as long as it's the same for all related podcasts  i.e. 'Sawbones'>
5) Save the changes
6) After saving all the new tags, re-add the podcasts to iTunes and everything should work properly.
     The only problem is that you have to do this for every podcast downloaded from any source that is not iTunes.
More about PODCASTURL - I've found that you need the actual URL, not just any text. I found the URL by Subscribing to the podcast in iTunes, downloading one podcast, then examining it in Mp3tag and copying the URL. If you do it this way, your old podcasts will group properly with any new ones downloaded from iTunes.
If someone has more details for this process please add it to this thread!
For example, the tags PODCASTID and COMMENT ITUNPGAP may be unnecessary - I haven't taken the time to find out.
(Please don't ask me to teach you how to use Mp3tag - it's easy - read the manual)