OK, up front point, I'm a die hard Apple fan, but...

This is ridiculous. Unlike flash, java is RELATIVELY efficient standard. HTML 5 is, almost without a doubt, the future. But the "future" isn't today. The "future" is in about 2-4 years. Which means its unreasonable to assume that removing Java from the Safari browser is a user-interest based decisions. Instead, It is Apple trying to flex its muscle and kill a standard the way it killed flash.

Now, having said that, there is two reason they would do this: 1) Apple is trying to suppress an existing standard (Java) by attempting to decrease the amount of users whose browsers support Java and in turn reducing incentive to develop Java based websites. This option comes at the immediate cost of browser compatibility and user experience. 2) Apple has given up on the browser's wars and have decided to build a browser that only supports standards that are likely to deliver the highest quality content. Think "the best or nothing." Unfortunately, that just isn't the way the web works. The web is best experienced in a browser that support the most websites, despite inefficient design.

Having said that, neither reason is a good reason to remove Java support. I do believe the browser wars are powered by the idea that a monopoly on browsers means a greater control of the internet in the future, but I also believe that isn't what is going to actually happen. I believe that HTML standards will become so strict that it won't matter what browser you use. And thats good for the user. Hopefully, if anything, Apple has realized that and that is why they have followed "option 2."