Armon, I feel like it does not behave like this for me.
New artboard now gets dropped next to the active one, using the spacing value defined in Object > Artboards > Rearrange All Artboards dialog (which you can’t access though when you have the only one artboard on canvas, which is a big miss — here is the request to fix that: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/43218936)

But you say it gets dropped in the middle... Does it do it for you still?

As for the grabbing of objects which happen when you move artboards, it’s the fault of the 'Move/Copy Artwork with Artboard' button, which is located in Control panel, or its alter-ego, the 'Move artwork with Artboard' checkmark in Properties panel.
Both are not sticky are get re-enabled — not on every app launch, but on every app crash (which happens quite a while).

i've just created another thread about it.:

Vote on it too: alt click or click to create artboard and open artboard dimensions

Even better Alt click or when you click you get the Artboard Dimensions Dialog Box. Currently have to drag create an artboard and then go in and edit the dimensions. (Or duplicate an old artboard and then go into artboard settings)

In previous versions of AI, you could choose where you wanted to drop a new artboard. Now it just dumps it in the middle of the screen. This is problematic because when you go to drag it to a new location, it often grabs items from existing artboards and drags them along with it. I have no idea why you changed this feature, but it is a daily frustration. And judging from the forums, I'm not the only one that hates it!

Back to 2017 way to do things.

I've been trying to find anyone talking about this online. I used to be able to just click once with the artboard tool and a new artboard with identical dimensions would be created in that spot. Very convent and much faster. Now I am forced to click the new artboard button in the properties panel with no control over placement, or I can drag and release but that lacks size consistency.

Choose where to place new artboard, like how Illustrator used to act:

Please bring back the ability of a user to control where new artboards appear, rather than Illustrator always putting it next to whatever artboard might be selected or last one made. In earlier versions of Illustrator, users could make a new artboard in any particular location by simply clicking the artboard tool in the paste board.

It is SO frustrating to make a new artboard in some odd location and then have to move it to where you wanted it to be in the first place.

I agree!

NEW ARTBOARD Button should create floating artboard placement like it was before update. Now New Artboard creates instantle right next to the previous artboard, which is not helpful at all. i want a flexiblity to place artboard anywhere i want.

When i create a new artboard it automaically places it next to my previous artboard. normally you see a preview and can place it somewere of your chosing. Is there a option to disable this?