For those who don't know, Ubuntu is mostly Debian Unstable with a few packages delayed and a few pushed in earlier. In the experience of most people I know, it's normally slower to move than unstable but not that much better.

The debian unstable->testing->stable cycle is vicious, and on a production system it's actually very sensible - by the time a package is allowed to reach stable, it will have been rigourously tested and actually be properly stable.