While I'll agree with you with most of your words, I have to say, that a
Sysadmin does not only rely on trust. For Ubuntu, trust means, I work with all
the guys who are preparing security fixes for packages in our archives. I trust
them to do the right thing ™. But I know me, and I don't do sometimes the
right thing, therefore even security updates alone can regress a system.
Ubuntu/Debian + Security Archive + testing on a testing system, installed and
configured like the productive machine (yes, this is possible with automation,
here FAI) will give you not only a satisfying feeling when everything works
afterwards, but it will show your company environment that you are doing your
job seriously and with knowledge.
A Sysadmin doesn't rely only on those archives
While I'll agree with you with most of your words, I have to say, that a Sysadmin does not only rely on trust. For Ubuntu, trust means, I work with all the guys who are preparing security fixes for packages in our archives. I trust them to do the right thing ™. But I know me, and I don't do sometimes the right thing, therefore even security updates alone can regress a system.
Ubuntu/Debian + Security Archive + testing on a testing system, installed and configured like the productive machine (yes, this is possible with automation, here FAI) will give you not only a satisfying feeling when everything works afterwards, but it will show your company environment that you are doing your job seriously and with knowledge.
Trust is good, trusting + testing is much better.
Regards,
\sh