Why does everyone seem to think this a black-and-white issue? You answered your own question. Inappropriate use of checked exceptions is built into the heart o

Why does everyone seem to think this a black-and-white issue? You answered your own question. Inappropriate use of checked exceptions is built into the heart of the Java standard libraries, which means that (a) every new Java programmer is taught, consciously or subconsciously, to use them everywhere, at least until the programmer is very explicitly educated about their badness; (b) even experienced Java programmers must deal with them every day, and 95% of the checked exceptions they deal with are an unredeemed pain in the ass, so before long the very sight of one makes you flinch. It's Pavlovian. In a language community where checked exceptions were a completely optional add-on which was only used when appropriate, they might have a much better reputation.