SharePoint Cumulative Update: version won't change

 [What you have]:
You have installed the hotfix \CU for SharePoint. But the version hasn't been changed.
("Where to look for SharePoint version? ")

[What you want]:
Obviously, you want to get a new version of SharePoint databases.

[What you want to know]:
Here is a sequence that you want to follow: 
1. If you have MOSS - you need to download WSS and MOSS update packages.


FOR SHAREPOINT 2010: The foundations installation is not need for SharePoint Server 2010 
As a result of the new packaging, it is no longer necessary to install the SharePoint Foundation cumulative update and then install the SharePoint Server cumulative update.


1. Install an update on every web server on the farm before PSConfig run.
2. Run the SharePoint Configuration Wizard.


Yes, It happened to me (and actually not the first time).
I have installed the cumulative update for SharePoint, ran the SharePoint Configuration Wizard. Checked the versions and found that the version is still old...

Here is a remedy that helped me:
1. Run the stsadm command: stsadm -o upgrade -forceupgrade -inplace
2. Restart the machine
3. Run the SharePoint Configuration Wizard.

[What you want to do]
Really helpful to look at the Update.log file (under 12\LOGS). Look how many errors and warning you have after applying the upgrade.
If you had an error during the upgrade - resume upgrade manually through the command:
psconfig -cmd upgrade -inplace b2b -wait -force

[What you want to consider]:
To get a deep understanding how to deploy a SharePoint update packages:
Office SharePoint Server 2007 video: Understanding and Deploying Hotfixes, Public Updates, and Service Packs

A step by step guidance how to perform the upgrade:

Deploy software updates for Office SharePoint Server 2007

A great article for those who wants to understand what update.log file is actually saying Description of the sequences and actions that occur when you upgrade SharePoint Products and Technologies