I don't think anyone ever produced a drum machine with an audio in. As recording nowadays is so essentially wrapped up with computers, then your experience is a symptom of problems most don't get. I've probably lost the latest save of a couple of songs in six months, and Cubase saves backups anyway - so it's very rare to lose projects as you describe unless you don't take care. Most crashes can be tracked down to specific problems - usually asking the machine to do more than it can. If you are using an internal sound card, then you've probably not really understood how modern recording works. In fact, some of the cards are actually quite good now - but they physically have compromises. No piles of XLRs and Jack connectors, no meters, no gain knobs, Phantom power etc etc -
If you read this forum, you'll find simply the use of DAWs as almost essential practice. They're just a tool - but so able. A drum machine was designed to go thump, click, thump click - that's the strength. So few people with drum machines use them standalone anyway? They trigger them from the DAW unless you want to recreate the 80s? All the neat things a DAW can do with drums missed totally.
If your computer is being arsy, then either you have a terrible computer, terrible software or are a computer phobe. This fine. In all areas some people just can't do them, but it's a very big hand tied behind your back. I just know that computers are the centre of my music making. I could not operate on the equipment I used to use. It's a choice you have to make - but manufacturers simply don't support non-computer products any longer.