I believe that how Microsoft numbers their version releases should be carefully considered by the marketing department from several different angles. For example, SQL Server 2014 generates a lot of excitement within the community, because it appears to be a major release over 2012, but is it really that big of a leap? Also, it actually be problematic when it comes to broad based adoption, because it seems like more of a migration effort than say going from 2008 => 2008 R2. Many, perhaps most, organizations would perceive it as more of a risk, especially since SQL Server 2012 was released only a couple of years ago and is working for them.

Also, for those of us studying for 2012 certification exams, or authors writing technical books, it would be great if the next major release (ie: 2012 -> 2014) didn't come out only a year after the exams are publicly released for the prior release. It makes us feel old hat before the ink is even dry.

All other things the same (features, release date, etc.), how many folks here think that SQL Server 2012 R2 would have just been a better name for marketing purposes?