[rlpb]

Any chance of coordinating with Debian and Ubuntu to get up-to-date packages into the official Debian and Ubuntu repositories?

Ubuntu has a backports repository which would be an appropriate venue for the latest and greatest of nginx, phusion passenger, etc.

[FooBarWidget]

That's exactly what we're trying to do. We've already contacted Debian/Ubuntu packagers about this.

[jlgaddis]

You'll likely want to start by filing either an ITP or RFP "bug" against Debian's wnpp pseudo-package, depending on who will be maintaining the package.

http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/