just went through the renewal process - what a PITA... first off, the new CORES2 required me to assoicate my FRN with a new username/password pair - but wouldn't let me do that without entering the zipcode from my residence where i lived when first licensed 20 years ago (despite updating my license info with new homes twice since then)...
next, renewing my license was another royal pain - why? because unless you go in, fill out the application for renewal, and *then* go back in and grant yourself authority to pay the license fee for your FRN, the link to pay the renewal fee remains hidden on the FCC site... took me a day or so to figure that out (and i'm quite familiar with computers, software, etc.)
here's the kicker: after paying the renewal fee, the receipt generated by the FCC site has my address info FROM WHEN I WAS LICENSED 20+ YEARS AGO!!!!
sheesh! to anyone facing renewal in the near future: take your time, have some patience, and good luck...