>What is it about Java? So many of the apps I use that are written in Java just seem to crawl. But so many swear by it.

First, there is the anti-Microsoft camp. Java is the best weapon they have (and that's not saying much).
Second, there is the "me too" syndrome that affects many CIOs and CTOs. Their hear their peers are using Java and they want to join in, so they mandate its use too.

As for being slow, I agree. Every Java app I've used is either very slow, has a terrible UI, or both. One problem is that the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is not optimized for Windows. Another is that it doesn't use common Windows controls. The write once, debug everywhere idea of Java just doesn't appeal to me.

There are other issues. For example, there is no standard for J2EE. Each company that sells J2EE tools, runtimes, etc, does things a bit differently. This means that if you do write J2EE compatable code, you have to do two things. 1) Have lots of branching to handle different implementations or 2) Choose to support only one implementation that may conflict with another implemention.

Also, Sun has not made any major improvements with Java for sometime. They keep saying lots of stuff is coming.

>J2EE, Swing, Beans, et all, stand in the bookstore and the only other shelves with that many titles are C++ and VB.

Bookstores are going to stock what they think will sell.