[graetzer]

You can definitely do ahead of time compilation with .net bytecode. That's why you can write iOS apps in c# with xamarin's SDK.

I think the performance differences between JIT compiled code and native code mainly come from the 'convenience' features offered by languages such as Java or C#. I am thinking of garbage collection, (default) virtual functions or reflection.

In let's say c++ you can do all of these things too, but the cost is not hidden from the developer.