I've always used the ppa
I'm sure many people do, that's not the point. Ubuntu is one of the largest GNU/Linux distros around, and their average user had access to bitcoin as part of their operating system. It would be as if windows 7 had came with an option to install bitcoin via an optional windows update or something. Today is release day for 14.04, perhaps it's worth reflecting on what we just lost.
Exactly, why would they include Bitcoin? I wouldn't expect anyone to. Not some anonymous os maintainer. I'd rather get it from the ppa and know the guy doing it. You must trust their signing keys.