On my most recent new install of gimp a few weeks back, it now has a reopen last documents feature, and I think it does now cache your last open files in the event of a crash.
I've been using GIMP since the mid 2000's as a replacement for Photoshop4/5 and it has always been a great tool. I haven't ever really had any major stability issues with it.

"Revoked a scientific finding" is as smart as saying "water not wet anymore".