Hi Rolf,
First, NWDS is not fading away. The statement on Support Portal is indeed misleading.
The fact that there is no NWDS 7.4 is simply because NW 7.4 Java and NW 7.31 Java have the same codebase. So you can use the appropriate 7.31 NWDS also for your NW 7.4 server.
If there is a new NW version with a new codebase, then there will also be a new NWDS.
Second, you are not limited to WD/J or VC development - SAPUI5 tools can be used in NWDS (see my blog)
Third, the Process Orchestration tools (PI and BPM) which are part of NWDS are being continuously enhanced. For instance, since NW 7.31, PI tools have moved from Swing to Eclipse/NWDS.
Finally, be assured that we understand the need for Eclipse 4.3+ and Java EE 6 support.
If things go well we can share some news on this early next year.
Best Regards,
Christian