My apologies to the open source community if this FUD is in any way a result of my own behavior. For the record, I went to Sun first and my offer to work with them still stands. The catch seemed to be that I wasn't interested in Solaris or Sparc...

I agree that standards are more important than any software, but not all standards are created equal. Don't take my word for it, but not everything from Sun, Java, or the managed Java community has been such a stellar notion. Independent open standards like http and xml are vastly more important than anything that has or will come out of the JCP.

Don't get me wrong, I think the JCP is great. However I also think it's restrictive, particularly in Sun's hands. The JCP can spearhead herd-mentality development, which is essential for large-scale standards projects with clear goals but is an Achilles heel in dealing with the multiverse of software considerations in the same industry as well-financed design-stealers like Microsoft.

I contend the JCP works best when it leads to open source implementations, something only recently accomodated. The JCP refines and cements good ideas, but it's still individuals that generate them. The froth Sun used to be hailing is best generated in an environment of freedom. Bureacratic methods that lead to endorsement and induced inertia can't compare to open source and the internet on that front. Saying JCP is better than open source is like saying Congress is better than the telephone.

It's a crying shame Sun insists on spurning what it could just as easily embrace. Where's the love?