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> Can't really blame Java for that, though

Hmm. Can't I? I know why Sun made Java. They wanted a platform to develop applications that didn't require the skill of a competent C++ programmer. They were targeting lower caliber coders.

I'm a pragmatist; yes, Java programmers would still find escapes, but they'd do it less and so the net number of flaws would be smaller. As jayd16 points out, there is a pragmatic way to deal with this; provide a compiler mode that eliminates null dereferences and rework the standard library to accommodate this. Simple and obvious. Afterwards you can throw the switch on whatever code your facing and you'll know if you're dealing with crap or not.