Not that this helps anyone, but I have only experienced one freeze on my old iPad, none on my phone, and none on my Android. I have seen Bart a few times, but that has been while I play on the train on my way to work, and definetively has mostly to do with tunnels and mountains, no EA. I have tried both with connected and not connected track pieces. Not lost donuts, and not had any real problems at all, this event. Thankfully, as I se there's been quite a lot of them.
I have not bought all land, though, and still no message about reaching the 4500 items limit, so that might also have some impact.
Thanks to RenegadeMoose (love the nick, btw) for great answer.
