Is Ubuntu LTS + a few backports + a few ppa apps better than normal Ubuntu server for production? Specifically, if the backports and ppa apps you are including are satisfied by a more recent normal Ubuntu server is it worth sticking with backports? Or, is it a bad idea to expose ourselves to all of the other changes in order to use rapidly developing apps from the main ubuntu archives (viz. puppet)?
Does anyone have a precedence for choosing LTS vs. normal because of these issues?
Honestly, my gut feeling at this point is that it might be better to switch from LTS to the normal server line and use pure ubuntu archives and yet there is still fear in my heart.
As far as I understand with 'normal' ubuntu you are forced to do upgrade (=reinstall) every 6 or so months. While LTS is supported for 5 years.