I continue recommending Electrum to friends as the single best lightweight client for new users (and old users as well), but it looks like there's a bit of a slow down in updates and new features.
My apologies if this sounds confrontational - it's not intended that way. I'm just trying to figure out what goes on behind the scenes, and if there's a chance I or the community can help in some way.
EDIT: Just read ThomasV's post about leaving INRIA. Good news! (although leaving INRIA must have been tough.... you must be crazy, other CS people would die to get in there ). So I guess in principle, development is more of a focus now than before?
That post is from january during the heady $1000/btc days.
Development hasn't stalled. It's ongoing as you can see from the github commits:
https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/commits/master
Thomas has said that it's taking longer than he expected:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.9516231
I think he's trying to add too many features in the next release. The more time passes the more demands are made for features to be included. For example the hardware wallet vendors have been clamoring to get support for their products in electrum.