[ncmncm]

Inheritance is flawed, in Java, mainly because it is the only organizing principle offered, so gets shoehorned into all kinds of problems where it is a poor fit.

Inheritance is just the right thing once in a while, but Java coders are obliged to apply it well beyond its useful range.

[kaba0]

Just because it exists doesn’t mean it has to be used beyond its intended domain. One is entirely free to create flat “hierarchies” in Java. But I agree that in hindsight, final classes as a default would be better.

Fortunately nowadays, records and sealed classes remedy this for the most part in java.

[ivanche]

What do you mean by "obliged to apply it"? For example, I very very rarely apply it and nobody is forcing me to create inheritance hierarchy.