They've released a new dev kit so that manufacturers can migrate to new versions quicker.
That said, they don't *need* to release a new version (from a market perspective) as android is pretty much there, as opposed to when it first started and it was way behind iOS. Now, of course, it's iOS that's way behind.
IMO going forward it won't necessarily be new features that sell a phone, but how well (and easily & seamlessly) it integrates with other stuff e.g. TV, watches, home automation, existing websites & social networks etc.
You may well be right with your point about the X phone and KLP Mykeyb