I can't really blame the SSD for all of my problems nor the lack of performance improvements. Linux is notoriously aggressive about caching disk files in main memory if you have free memory available. The SSD only improves the initial startup time of programs, not the subsequent startup times.
The drive seems reliable and fast
ASUS B-350M/CSM motherboard will not recognize the SSD as the primary boot device; even though it is the only one with a boot flag set; Ubuntu 17.04 installer crashes trying to access the device; even after I set a default partition table on it.