Future of the "SAP Java Connector"

Considering that the Java Connector was only recently re-developed to version 3 and is now used to bridge the gap between the NetWeaver Java Stack and its ABAP counterpart, it's safe to assume the JCo will be around for quite some time. I'd always prefer using the JCo to Web Services if I have the choice - less overhead, easier on the ABAP side. You might want to take a look at tools like HiberSAP, RCER or sap4j to make life a little easier on the Java side - that is, reducing the amount of boilerplate code and focusing on the really important things.

Yes, of course. SAP introduces new CE products all the time but they dont make the java connector obsolete at all because you should still be able to integrate third party software into your sap landscape. Since enterprise services can be exposed as SOAP services as well in ECC 6.0 you could use any java soap library. But I think RFC is the way to go in respect to performance (I've not tried it myself, thats just what I hear)