First, the icons arrangements are limited. You can put icons on different pages to reduce the number, or you can make folders to reduce the number on the home screen. That does not allow for placement, but does allow you to view more of your home screedn. But what is the purpose. The idea is that the iPad is a small screen for portability. The screen is not meant to be a high visibility focal point.
As for Apple not doing enough with the new iPad, please take a lesson in reality before you choke on your foot. The original iPad was a huge leap of faith by Apple. There was enough of a positive reaction, that Apple could justify some big steps with the iPad 2. However, there is little that can be done past the iPad 2 that will be as dramatic. What Apples does is plan these versions years in advance. The upgrades depend on all proposed components to be available in time for mass production. The big demand was for retina style screens, even tho the old screen was excellent. Apple had two choices, get four times the pixels in the same type of screen, or go with IGZO technology. Until the very last minute, Apple had them building prototypes for testing. In the final analysis, the IGZO screen proven to be not ready for prime time, so the nod was given to the improved old technology. This had a cost in material cost, power demand and size. Even so, Apple did a great job in keeping as close as possible to the iPad 2 dimensions. And because of the added material cost, Apple had to decide whether to keep the old sizes of SSDs, or to increase the prices of the new iPad. I think they made the right choice. 4G, A5X, are all upgrades. Being "disappointed " because they made good advances in a quality product, says more about you than about Apple.