I believe you well know the answer to your own question. Neither you or I can say how much research MikeBCda might do to see what the differences between the 5.5 version and any later version. However, it a mute point why go back to 5.5 when he is using 6.5.737 that is working for him and incorporating all of the points I raised and then some.
I'll stick with my 6.5.737 as long as it stays functional, but I'm fairly sure its days are numbered.
To answer your question directly...
In my opinion, any version after 6.0 (after Check Point purchased ZoneAlarm) is inferior to ZoneAlarm's own products.
5.5.094 is a superior firewall to any version that has come after. The long list of bug and stability fixes to the bloat that was introduced by Check Point to the product, that you posted, just confirms that to me. Changes for the better, are normally listed in release notes. I don't see anything that tells me that is so with their revisions that you posted.
Sometimes what was, is better than what is. Check Point's changes to the ZoneAlarm products were marketing driven, not technical driven.
The advice and information that I gave to MikeBCda and to anyone else who read my post, still stands. In threads here, there are many times opposing views and suggestions. As said, it's then up to the OP to make up his mind as to which suggestions to adopt.
As I've tried to point out in this thread on my discussion on ZoneAlarm, sometimes updates to programs don't necessarily make them better. In fact, many times, they just compound the problems, as I believe the case is with ZoneAlarm. Sometimes stepping backwards to an earlier version might be a person's best bet, and was the suggestion I made to MikeBCda.