Thing is, Debian is already effectively (since Ubuntu) a Linux distro that's supposed to be for us. People who want a nice desktop experience go with Ubuntu, people who want a server reach for Debian.
If the higher ups at Debian really think they're going to be a player in desktop and are making decisions along those lines, then they must be seriously oblivious to the niche that Debian has actually settled into post-Ubuntu.
Your distinction is both wrong and too simplistic. Debian has a perfectly respectable Desktop, and Ubuntu has more than a good server product.
Choosing between them depends more on technical and project requirements.
Whilst I am not a fan of SystemD, it is important to remember that it came from RedHat.. you know, the people famous for servers.
SystemD will be a good init for Server, as it will be for Desktop. i am pretty critical of SystemD, but something is better than Sysvinit. I'd have favoured Upstart, but that doesn't matter... SystemD won, people need to deal with it. This is a good evolution for Linux.
If the higher ups at Debian really think they're going to be a player in desktop and are making decisions along those lines, then they must be seriously oblivious to the niche that Debian has actually settled into post-Ubuntu.