A paradigm mismatch ?

Here are my comment on an often repeating topic of conversation about 6th semester projects in Masters Of Computer Applications course. A lot of people are considering programming for web based applications aka websites for their last semester projects in MCA. Since this involves a whole stack of technologies, one can observe that it in turn, helps a person or more importantly, his mentor to hide a poor design behind this complexity.
Coming back to the topic, a lot of my friends and people from various coaching centers have certainly got preconceived notions regarding different technologies to code with as their server side programming language. However, one can observe the faint rumblings of faint but still existent religious fervor of 'my language is better than yours'.
To start off with, students try and then ignore Java as an alternative because it is too complex (It is a big pain, but then has its benefits) and huge for their web applications. However, this fear can be allayed by the fact that one can choose from a wide variety of frameworks(MVC like Struts & SpringMVC or component based like Tapestry or JSF) and technologies (a plethora of middleware tech.) within the java ecosystem itself. PHP is touted as a compelling alternative, but for me, the scripting approach only works for demonstrative purposes. Anything larger either needs a huge patience, or frameworks, which are immature so far in this platform. I really am not impressed by frameworks like Zend here to name a few. Microsoft .NET deserves a special mention because it is already baked in (with IDE & app server ready, for instance) as well as has a meaningful architecture(through code behind). However the very strength of this framework becomes its nemesis as students are not encouraged to question/hack into the innards of any tool used. The upcoming framework like asp.net MVC too represents a copied and chaotic exercise to perform something that is coming too late.
My personal outlook about the whole situation is that no single technology rules the roost. If you ask me, it is java for building middleware (business intensive) & expandable (one where you can fit in a lot of components/features) websites. Php is really cute as you get the time to play around with css & javascript based functionality around your site (After all, the data is the king and your site functions as its glorified frontend). If I require a lot of versatility as well as ease of development, I'll go for .NET as it really hits that sweet spot when you are willing to work inside the confines of the framework.
I had this discussion with myself a few days back in a moment of clarity as I was contemplating mine and others' 6th semester project for my MCA course. I specifically ignored Rails (and frameworks based on it) as one generally threads a safe line in our course. Researching and hacking into a shiny new technology and writing a perfect but undocumented & incomplete project would only lead towards its cancellation.
BTW, I had time to write all this stuff on new year's eve as tomorrow is my 5th semester ERP examination. So good luck for me and a very happy new year 2011 AD for my readers!