[Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) General] BarryH_GEG:
Here's what I think happened and it's pure speculation.

Samsung released the N10.1-14 as just another new tablet in the evolution of their portfolio - a N10.1>N10.1-14 refresh similar to the SGS3>SGS4>SGS5 and N1>N2>N3. It takes about six months to bring a mobile device to market so to be released in October to some degree the N10.1-14 was finalized (on paper) in June; half way through its development cycle. When it was launched at IFA at the N3 reveal in September, no one even knew it was coming - there were no leaks or certifications. Near the time it was announced analysts started projecting a downturn in high-end smartphone sales due to Western markets maturing and Samsung's stock tanked. I think the N10.1-14 was rushed to market in order to be on the shelves prior to the holiday selling season to prop-up Samsung's revenue and margins.

Sometime either close to the N10.1-14's launch or soon after, Samsung decided with smartphone sales/margins in jeopardy it was time to assault the tablet market like they had to conquer smartphones (EG: tons of sizes, categories, and prices). A single flagship (N10.1-14) that was an evolution of its predecessor couldn't drive the numbers needed alone. Neither could mid-spec devices like a refreshed Tab 3 line. So enter the "Pros." Samsung took the high-end h/w of the N10.1-14 and threw in some s/w flourishes and poof - 8/10/12" tablets priced the same as equivalent iPads. If my hunch is right and the Pros were a Hail Mary the amount of resources necessary to get them out in the timeframe they were released was enormous. Samsung's also already released a Tab 7 Neo for the ultra low end and is getting ready to launch 7/8/10" Tab 4's. There's also a rumor of a 10+" premium tablet with an AMOLED display which may have just passed through the FCC. And I'd bet there's a Tab 8 Neo and Note|Pro 8.4 lurking out their somewhere too. Counting Tabs and Notes separately (and not even taking in to account Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G versions) that's 10+ re-designed or new tablets in six months.

With the amount of resources being thrown at all the tablets to get them to market Samsung's stretched thin; especially if the Pro strategy was a late idea. Look at it this way, Samsung just wants to sell tablets. The higher the price (and margin) the better. At MSRP the N10.1-14 is priced higher than the Pro 10.1. Samsung isn't pushing Pros over the N10.1-14 and intentionally delaying the latter's/w updates; they just don't have the resources to get to it. I think the roll-out of multi-user beyond the U.S. and general N10.1-14 updates were put on hold once the Pro strategy was green-lighted. The thought being rather than an ordinary 4.4 update the N10.1-14 would get a hybrid version of the Pro's s/w to save on development costs, elongate its sales cycle, and prop up its high price tag. Then, Google and Samsung announced their vague and secrative cooperation pact. After that, M-UX on the Pros and TW+ on the SGS5 were released in much milder forms than Samsung previously described them. In addition, Samsung's Hub which competes directly with Google Play was removed from the Pros. Now Google's sitting with Samsung at the latest Apple copyright infringement trial. Something's up and we customers aren't driving it we're on the receiving end.

Like I said this is all pure speculation. But if it's right our s/w isn't being intentionally delayed it's trapped in delays caused by unusually high internal resource demands and continual strategy changes at Samsung regarding both their products and s/w approach. I think the latter's why no new devices outside the N3 and SGS4 have received an update to 4.4 even though there are about a dozen on the list Samsung released over a month ago. And since the masses are less concerned about OS version numbers pissing off enthusiasts by delaying updates is the least of Samsung's worries.

Or, all this could be wrong and this is just another case of Samsung doing a piss poor job of both updates

and

communication. ;)