[premium-concern]

No. Java messing things up as usual, doesn't have any broader impact on the usefulness of the concept.

Error handling with null is wrong and broken, regardless of whether the null is "typed" or not.

null might have some very limited other uses, but they will never compete with those structures designed for error handling, because they do something fundamentally different.

[cle]

My argument is practical, not theoretical. Platitudes and ideals are disposable when you have to actually build something.

[premium-concern]

Yawn.

Java is the platform with NPEs and null checks everywhere. If that's your definition of practical, sure, go ahead.