17.6 was worst than 16.1 (no DD/DTS passthrough), and than 18.x was even worster (constant crashes with the Wrapper) and nothing I could recall as a real improvement and that also really works in general on any Android Boxes. I don't see here any "forefront technology"...
The only reason you would need to update sooner or later are the add-ons (depend on if you ever use some of these), if their support and sure operation for earlier KODI's are no longer maintained... (That's also an odd string...)