> If anything one of the major design points was to solve the surprises inherent to C/C++.

Sure, but you're speaking past each other.

* Java was designed to be more predictable and have fewer dark corners than C++ (no undefined behaviour, precisely defined primitives and generally far less platform-specific behaviour, etc)

* Java was designed to feel familiar to C++ developers in order to aid adoption (specifically its syntax)

These aren't in contradiction.