[sslalready]

Care to expand on why MySQL < 8 will be problematic for analysts? Anything else than the lack of window function?

[oarabbus_]

IMO lack of window functions alone are a death knell.

CTEs/WITH clause is the other massive one - almost as important as window functions.

Additionally, EXCEPT/INTERSECT support, better EXPLAIN (it's still shit though), much improved REGEXP and JSON support.

[paulryanrogers]

Possibly JSON operators

[jimktrains2]

Window functions.