Moving from iTunes to Apple Devices / Music - for Windows

Not a techie, so be gentle, please. ;-) I'm reasonably capable, but not an IT guy.

Trying to navigate from iTunes for Windows, to Apple Music and Apple Devices, for Windows.

2 questions:

1. I stopped using iTunes 'cause I was getting the dreaded random error - sometimes would do backup to PC, sometimes would not do it, when I was doing nothing different each time. Tried to uninstall and re-install iTunes, and Apple told me, No, use the new apps. Some teething problems w/ the new apps.

I think I've read here that iTunes for Windows can still be used, if I uninstall Apple Devices & Apple Music - is this true?

2. Apple Music doesn't see my iPhone, and I've read that I have to use Apple Devices to sync / load playlists to my iPhone. Apple Music on my PC shows playlists that I wanna use, and Apple Devices does not show them, and the playlists are no longer on my iPhone, long story, don't ask.

Is there any way I can copy the playlists from Apple Music to Apple Devices, so that I can then load / sync them onto my iPhone?

Thanks in advance for any help, much appreciated.