E.G. I like Avast! 7 more than 2014 and was wondering if it still gets updates?
Yes it does.
What it is that you like so much not to even go to avast 8 or avast 9. You are potentially missing out on functionality not in avast 7.
I’m currently using Avast! 2014 and having horrific DPC latency issues with the firewall driver. Avast! support could not find a fix and I’m considering going back to 7 or 8.
What would I be missing out on (bear in mind the firewall has to be disabled currently)?
You may attach a OTL diagnostic log then maybe essexboy can spot a problem… https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Apart from “visible” features… security updates (of the product itself), virtualization improvements (helping with the emulation of suspicious samples), improved “sensors” (feeding data into the detection code, making it possible to detect more threats), improved shields (let’s say WebShield) which again may possibly detect more and faster, …
the good news is the beta (.2020) does not have this bug 
The beta/RC process has now ended an 9.0.2021 has been released - see https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=151290.0.
@ gannon 11000… good luck on that - I tried doing the same thing
and it still downloaded ver 9.