5.8.5 has the new, improved, settings menu - -
a world above the way it has been for years.
(and you will get an immediate chance to use it - just to turn on 'list view' again - don't give up - 5.8.5 will do 'list view').
There is a long time between being built in China and showing up on the "Amazon shelves".
So it most likely is not running the latest and greatest.
Go to your model's page on Amazon, get the current release and update your Kindle.
Not only will you be able to find your way around in the settings menu, but you will be able to build your collections using your desktop and the Amazon web-page for your device. (another 'new' thing).
Once you can find your way around the settings menu - there should be a "refresh on each page turn" option that should help reduce the ghosting.
If the font sizes on the AA menu does not have a selection you like -
We can check if the "FONT_RAMP" feature is still in 5.8.5 -
nobody has reported on that (yet).
Using the "FONT_RAMP" file does not require a jailbreak, it is a built-in (undocumented) feature of the Amazon firmware.
And will do no harm to try - it will either work or it will not.
If you still don't like the combinations -
You do have 30 days to change your mind and ask Amazon to exchange it for a lighted model.
Asking in the technical forum about the battery was the right thing to do.
Just don't get overwhelmed with the information offered.
