I don't think it's fair to lay all the blame for any current blockage on Larry. I think the same issues that apply with just using Perl 7 as the name of the next version apply to just using the secondary version number.
It also ignores the validity of the underlying assumption of this line of reasoning, that Perl would be more popular and more used if only the version number was 7.3 or something else that suggested change. I think there's enough holes to be addressed in that argument that making changes based on it is really just flailing in the dark, twiddling bits hoping for a better outcome.
It's not that Perl would be more popular and used if only the version number changed -- it's that the not-obviously-iterating version number fools people who don't look closely at it into thinking the language is moribund.
(This problem was a major topic of coffee stand discussion at YAPC::NA this July ...)
I have have a feeling it's been a major topic of discussion at quite a few YAPC::NA's that past few years. It was in at YAPC::NA in 2013.
My question is, what people is it fooling?
If the person is unfamiliar with Perl, 5.20 isn't going to mean anything to them, since they have no reference.
If the person is familiar with Perl and remembers something about the version they used, 5.20 is different than any version number they remember, so denotes some change they may choose to look into.
If the person is familiar with Perl and doesn't remember the version they used or hasn't heard from any other possible source there's been same major changes, then a major version number change may attract their attention, but will it do so any more than the numerous announcements about major changes with versions that are announced? I'm not certain, and even if it does, is catering to this small subset of people worth it? I'm even less certain.
If the language is to grow, it needs new blood, not just to draw back expatriates. I think the name argument is just a red-herring drawing people away from action that could actually be of use (IMHO, virtually any other action).
(Perl isn't the product of a corporate culture: it's a labour of love. Unfortunately this can result in some quirky ego-related side effects.)