Why is RDF so old, complicated, unpopular and still not discarded? 15 years ago
RDF/XML serialization of RDF graphs can be painful. I completely agree that other serializations like Turtle should be used in recommendations (e.g. R2RML).
But the RDF model is a wonderful thing. The use of URIs as identifiers for objects and properties makes possible for the first time to reuse knowledge and share data, linking APIs in the same way we are alreay linking web pages.
RDF semantics are maybe harder, but most people can start using RDF without caring about things like entailment.
I really think RDF has a future, specially since the steady growth of the LOD initiative. The revision of the standard is also a good opportunity to polish some aspects of RDF, for example, the use of named graphs.