As a developer, as opposed to you hard working DBAs, I care little about Service Packs, CUs or even hotfixes to SQL Server. It is another area where I rely on you DBAs to know your stuff and reasonably apply it both technically as well with engagements with suppliers (such as Microsoft) not only for your benefit but also that of the community. Thanks.
Half way through reading this editorial I thought that I was not best placed to pass any kind of judgement until I read this:
...as long as this paragraph appears on CU pages, I do not think we should recommend CUs to DBAs.
"This cumulative package is intended to correct only the problems that are described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing these specific problems. The updates in this package may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by any of these problems, we recommend that you wait for the next SQL Server 2012 service pack that contains the hotfixes in this package."
This means that the question of "Does this SQL Server installation have the latest patches?" becomes ambiguous as the answer could be "Yes" when it fully is "Yes, all the applicable CUs have been applied which happens to be none of them".
This is an unsatisfactory situation.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!