Since apple disabled OS upgradeability on Ipod touch, has an alternate way been made available?

Question

I have an IPod touch, it was running OS 4.3.3
Then I experienced a problem where it failed to boot up normally.
I could not find a solution so I went to the Apple store, there they connected it to their cable and booted it up.
The technician then told me I needed a new cable, that the one I have was/is bad. Believing him I purchased a new cable.
Now I cannot update my IPod back up to OS 4.3.3 and nothing much will run on it.
Also I double checked the old cable later and it seems to be working normally, so I am more suspicious about what was done.
So I am beginning to hate Apple! And like so many other companies out there, I recognize that they do not have my best interest at heart.
I would like to get the 4.3.3 running again in the hope that some of the apps I wanted to use will be functional again, however, it is my experience that Apple continues to upgrade their apps and they install on ones IPod but then fail to run, and prompt for one to upgrade the OS! It is insulting and underhanded that one does not even get a warning of any kind that I am aware of about how new upgrades will eliminate the older functional apps and install current non-functional apps. That in my way of seeing things is a crime.
I am willing to try to get some other OS running on this now useless paper weight as a result. Can you help?
P.S. I had not made a backup of my "blobs" I have heard that if I had that would have saved the day!
Also, the currently functional OS is 4.2.1 (8C148)

Answer 1

The IPod currently has only OS 4.2.1      Before I had the problem it was running OS 4.3.3
The Apple technician got the IPod running again but it was back to the OS 4.2.1 Which It may have come with when I first purchased it.  The thing is, I think I actually paid Apple for the upgrade to OS4.3.3 It was my one and only purchase made via payment. Unfortunately they claim no recognition of that transaction and before they will even look into it further, they require support payment since I no longer have any warranty coverage.
Just to be certain, I downloaded ITunes64Setup.exe 11.1 from
http://www.apple.com/confirm/itunes/thankyou.html
I then reinstalled it.
I then started ITunes and connected the iPod Touch.
The syncing process completed with 7 issues related to not finding various songs and/or music.
When the sync first started where the “iPod is indicated on the tool bar, it showed “2 iPods”
When the sync finished it returned to indicating “iPod”
Under “Check for Update” it indicates that iOS 4.2.1 is the current version.
That of course is false information when compared to the fact that the iPod was running iOS 4.3.3
Before the problem occurred.  Also there were no problems for a fairly long period of time while the iOS 4.3.3 was running.