Thus spake Nick Mathewson (nickm@freehaven.net):
Last year, I announced a tenative schedule for 0.2.3.x. We didn't stick to it, and things have gone a little pear-shaped with getting 0.2.3.x stabilized, but I think with a few tweaks we can use something similar to get a good schedule out for 0.2.4.x.
My goals remain about what they were before: get release out faster by getting better at saying "no" to features after a release window. My target is March or April 2013.
To that end:
[*snip schedule dates I'm certain to forget anyways*]
On the meaning of "feature": I'm probably going to argue that some things that you think are bugfixes are features. I'm probably going to argue that your security bugfix is actually a security feature. I'm probably even going to argue that most non-regression bugfixes are features. Let's try to get a release out *early* in 2013 this time, come heck or high water.
For people who are only occasionally/tangentially involved in tor-core development like myself, it might be useful to have some kind of active ping/reminder on tickets with the Tor-0.2.4.x-final trac milestone around the deadline deadline date(s) you deem applicable for that ticket.
Unless it is way more work for you, I think I would prefer per-ticket reminders on trac to blanket email announcements, so I know exactly what and when I should care about getting something done if I really want it done, and what deadline category you think each thing falls in to.