So Ubuntu has this model where they pretty much freeze package versions for an Ubuntu release after release, and then they only backport security updates from upstream. There's nothing new here, most distros do it this way. The idea is that this way they can polish the gazillions of package versions
You’ll get 5 free instances if you get a subscription, but that kind of messes with the whole “just install Ubuntu from a USB key and use it with no hassle” workflow many Ubuntu users used to love.