For everyone who has issues with Win 8.1, there is at least one who does not have any problem with it.
Win 8.1 does NOT turn off Recovery, otherwise you would not be able to post the steps by steps in your post. Different OS has different procedures. Users just need to find the way. There is no fancy key strokes to get to Safe Mode. Just different ways and not the same as Vista and Win 7.
Regarding " 8.1 turns off some functions" you were alluding to, can't help you if you do not specify what those "some functions" are.
As to the Recovery instructions you posted, it does NOT "restore" you machine back to Win 8. The Recovery application is to restore your machine back to day one of Windows 8.1.