If only there was a newer version of the server available with updated docs, and bugs fixed...
The explanation for that is that we are actually using Enterprise Linux distros (RHEL, SLES), meaning: software is not bleeding edge. Since we're paying support for that, we could ask them questions, but they are probably not experts in every single product or technology that they provide a package for. Even if they were, the limits of "normal" tech support are quickly reached, and consulting becomes "necessary" (or at least that's what they would tell you). As an alternative we could install everything entirely up-to-date manually. But then there would be no support, at least not for that software. So we either would have to pay twice (#1: for the old version that comes with the distro anyway, #2 for a newer version that we install ourselves and that would thus not be covered by #1.) Or we could drop Enterprise Linuxes entirely and either hope that everything works out, or buy support for each individual software, which is unfeasible. Now, however, we are OT I guess :)