Scanning compatibility problems

This is more likely an Epson issue than an Apple issue. Or (less likely) a problem with the USB connection; if you are using a USB hub, remove it from the connection chain.

I strongly suggest that you look into Vuescan from Hamrick Software. I have used it for many many years on different Macs & versions of macOS and it has always performed perfectly. And it's much more functional than either Epson Scan or Image Capture. Hamrick has been successful at engineering Vuescan to talk to most scanners without needing a special driver. It works with the ES-300W without needing the Epson driver.

VueScan is now and always been the Swiss Army Knife of scanning. Ed Hamrick has a stellar reputation for customer service. That you are having problems first with Epson and now VueScan points in one direction for the problem.

I have an Epson all-in-one WF-2860 and it scans beautifully with macOS Sonoma 14.1.2. I have been using VueScan for over ten years with no issues. macOS' built-in scanning software, Image Capture, also works fine with the Epson scanner. So instead of raging and blaming maybe you should concentrate on troubleshooting your issue because I guarantee you it’s not with Epson or VueScan.

Start with your USB connection. Try a different cable.

Reset the printing system and add the Epson Scanner back in.

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem - Apple Support

Also consider booting your Mac into Safe Mode to see if the problem persists. If it doesn’t then you have some kind of third party software interference. Do you use anti-virus software, a major cause of numerous issues?

Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Keep us posted on the results.

If the Epson scanner software doesn't work, try using Image Capture. If it isn't available, look for an ICA driver on the Epson website. There are ICA drivers for both Ventura and Sonoma.

I suppose if you paid a lot for the scanner, you want to do better scanning than Image Capture provides, so take a look at VueScan (as has already been recommended).

Sorry to hear you had trouble with Vuescan. I hope it has resolved for you. Vuescan is actually a great app.

A few thoughts -

You said in your original post that the scanner was working, but then stopped in mid-scan. Do the lights on the scanner indicate any kind of problem? If any of the lights are flashing or the ready light is off, check your user manual to see what the lights may be indicating. And if your scanner is connected to a USB hub, connect it directly into your Mac instead.

Try creating a new user account on your Mac (this will only be temporary). Then, in that account try to scan something. If it works properly in the new user account, that would indicate the problem lies somewhere in the user account you normally use ... vs. in the scanner or Epson app.

Finally, in order to use the Mac's built-in Image Capture app with your Epson scanner, you would need to install the Epson ICA Scanner Driver for Image Capture -> https://epson.com/Support/Scanners/ES-Series/Epson-WorkForce-ES-300W/s/SPT_B11B242201?review-filter=macOS+10.13.x If you do this, and the scanner works properly with Image Capture, that would tend to indicate a problem with the 'regular' Epson driver or Epson Scan, in which case I'd uninstall them, reboot and then reinstall the Epson software.