How about the year of being creative and not over doing one particular race just to please some dual wielding chromatically challenged elf wannabes?
Sorry, I have grown to loathe Drow.
Although, if we have to have a "year of the...", I would also vote for Kobolds.
Imagine it... sourcebooks with names like "Horn and Scale", the kobold being included among the basic races in 3.5.. a mega adventure called "city of the yappy dog / lizard king".