How to get all my data off an old iPad?

I have an old iPad and recently got a newer one. I want to take all the data off the old one, download it to my Windows PC, and then move it onto the newer iPad. By data, I mean screenshots and texts. (I don't have a SIM card or cell plan for the iPad, but I can link it to my iPhone so that I can send texts to other iPhones.)

Old iPad: iPad Air, first version, model #A1475.

iOS version: 12.5.5

Storage capacity: 128GB

I strongly prefer not to use iTunes to do this. If there's any other way to access the above data, please let me know how to do it. I can no longer use the file system on my Windows PC to access files on the iPad. This is very annoying, as that used to work for me nicely. Why Apple decided to remove that useful feature is beyond me. There must be third-party apps that will provide a workaround so that I can access all the data that belongs to me! I realize this is Apple.com, so those who answer this might not be allowed to make suggestions for workarounds. But you might be able to suggest forums I could go to to look for that information.

Some of my data is in the cloud, but I don't know how much. At first I disabled iCloud for all my apps, but somehow, mysteriously, it was enabled on many of my apps. I didn't do it, and I don't know when it happened. Probably my settings were changed during one of my upgrades. So now, some of my stuff is in the cloud and some is only on the device. I have plenty of storage and would have been happy to just keep everything on the iPad. How can I tell where my data is? I guess if I disabled wi-fi, I wouldn't have an internet connection, and then I wouldn't be able access the data that is only in the cloud - correct?

As for the data that IS in the cloud, how can I get it onto my newer iPad? This is my first iPad, so I haven't had to do this before.

If I have to use iTunes to copy stuff to my Windows PC, will it be able to get all the screenshots and text conversations? I don't see any selections on iTunes that allow you to access those types of data. It will access music files, films, and other media, but I don't see settings for photos and certainly not for text.

I would appreciate any suggestions, pointers, and instructions (if not too big a job to write them). Thank you!