Yeah, I wasn't suggesting the JVM was bad (on the contrary, I think it is quite good). I was just putting Java in the "crappy language" camp.

The best use of Java is implementing Clojure. Of that (Clojure) I am a fan.

I’d rather write Java than be in parentheses hell any day of the week.

There was a time when I had an equal revulsion toward languages with a Lisp-like syntax. However, dissatisfaction with the limitations of most other programming languages, and the influence of a bunch of very smart and effective developers was enough to convince me to give them another look (and try to be open minded about it).

As countless others have said before me, the parens really do cease to be an issue over time (and not really very long of a time either). The power and flexibility gained by writing code in Lisp/Scheme/Clojure or other Lisp dialects really is worth the effort, in my opinion. I'm not saying there are no bumps in the road - there definitely are. However, I have zero regrets about taking the time to learn those languages. Even if I never write another line of code in any of them again, it will still have been worth the effort.