Where in their application did they play to java's strengths to leverage the product, no where. Picking the right tool for a job is important to the final outcome. MS is downplaying java because they seeit as a threat to their desktop dominance. Look at the work Sun is doing on JavaSpaces. Think about it a little bit.
Networks are great for businesses.
All those benefits are multiplied many times by having access to an even larger network, world wide. MS has made lots of money selling you the same products over and over again. Java and the internet make that the old way of doing business. Don't perptuate the old stuff because you can't see all the benfits of the new stuff right away. Look a little bit farther ahead and have a little vision.