Why is Java so popular

The introductory programming course at uni teaches Java, but you don't have to take it if you know a programming language. Should I teach myself python over the summer (I already know the basics) and avoid having to learn Java? Or are the haters just people who are scared of object orientation.

>>9
I know I H B T, but still: Although the JVM isn't the best VM design out there (register machines are faster, dammit) it's production-quality and it's available everywhere. Deploying to JVM bytecode is a pretty easy way to put your code on one of those insanely parallelized server machines with over 9000 CPUs.

And yes, someday soon a newer, better VM will finally be strong enough to kick the JVM's ass.