What's with all the benchmarks? I guess Java is slowest and C++ is fastest. Now all that is good but the fact that .NET has a more comprehensive "accessories" package , means even if java vm's were built into hardware or whatever other nativisation might happen for byte-code. .NET would still be a better deal. Benchmarks might address performance issues but they do not necessarily mean that its pragmatic. Language "accessories" are in my opinion primarily libraries, communities and tools.`
Other things like advocacy and standardization are also important but nothing is more important than libraries.

based on that arguement .NET related techniologies are a better deal all the time since the whole .NET thing is all about crreating those pieces.

I keep on saying .... you really cannot compete with folks who are doing it for the money if you are doing it for fun or ego..... nothing clarifies more than trying to get paid