Yes it was better than 8.0, but 8.x definitely did not sell as well as Windows 7.

Windows 7 got 3 years of ESU (extended security updates), which MS did not bother with Winodws 8 because there wasn't the install base worth the effort (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-8-1-supp...).

It was the same with Vista - it's predecessor, Windows XP, was supported until 2014, which was 2 years more than Vista got