Joey D’Antoni explains why this is a big deal:
No, it’s not dark mode for SQL Server Management Studio, though the votes are probably close. (Note: I feel like I’m the only IT pro who doesn’t use dark mode, and it’s because I record/present so much—pro tip: you shouldn’t present in dark mode). It’s also not the enhancements to Always On Availability Groups, but you’ll read more about those either here or over at Redmond in the coming months. The most requested feature in SQL Server 2025 is Standard Developer Edition (which is an unfortunate name, but in my discussions with the product group, there just wasn’t anything better they could come up, and legal wouldn’t approve Standard McDatabaseyface).
My hot take is that I don’t use dark mode either. More people should just have proper task lighting when they’re working.