In the software world, RH is not just old, it's practically antique. Their kernel age can really hold you back. Compare it to the way SLES releases their minor versions.
I've done alot of work with RH, but I do not recommend it or enjoy it.
If all you are doing is running a webserver, java app, and database the kernel version pretty much doesn't matter. This is the use case most companies are in.
