Why only 3 years LTS?

Ubuntu and all flavors used to all provide three years of support for LTS.

Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Cloud, and Ubuntu Base had their supported life extended to 5 years, many years ago, but all flavors remained 3 years.

No flavor has reduced length of LTS, it's just the main Ubuntu products had life extended. It applies to packages found in 'main', so as already stated, your Ubuntu-MATE system will have security fixes & updates for the packages from 'main', ie. those used in common with Ubuntu Desktop.

The only change since the prior post you mention, is Kubuntu only has 3 years of support (Ubuntu Kylin had 5 years for 16.04 [only for 16.04], not Kubuntu)

FYI: I'm speaking here mostly from my knowledge via the Ubuntu News Team having been involved there since 2015; but official member since 2017.

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