Yes 8.04 is LTS(Long Time Support) version Desktop 3yrs and server 5yrs. It is not "kind of odd" as this is the second LTS (I think). First was 6.06 which was supported until now i.e june 2009.
I have been using Ubuntu since 5.10 breezy. 5.10, 6.06, 7.10, 8.10, 9.04. I didnt use few in middle.