It's funny... for all the hate that gets heaped on Java, you can't deny that it "just works" and works damn well for quite a few use cases. In the past, it was popular to suggest that Java was popular only because of the money Sun spent on marketing, but I don't think that was ever entirely true. Java isn't the best language in probably any single regard... but it hits a real nice sweet spot of "good enough" in enough areas, that it's earned it's popularity and endurance.
Now you kids get off my lawn!