For me, the issue with lambdas isn't adding them at all, it's why they've decided to never break backwards compatibility in any way. It's like deciding you'll n

For me, the issue with lambdas isn't adding them at all, it's why they've decided to never break backwards compatibility in any way. It's like deciding you'll never ever be bald and you're not willing to have a hair-piece. So by any means necessary you'll cover up the baldness with your own hair. Instead of embracing your new look of baldness you'll comb any hair over, whip it around in a circle, whatever it takes. They had basically a perfect opportunity to just say "Java 6 is what it is" and make Java 7/8 the new thing with reified generics, lambdas, etc. Lambdas got added through the regular Java process of never breaking anything so they'll be there and I'll use them, it's just a missed opportunity. But I don't think it's a case of multiple valid choices leading to a mess, it's more one big foundational choice leading to a mess.