Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'd love the newer version of Safari but I'm running Jaguar...one OS below the minimum requirements. The version I have now hangs up quite a bit, a problem I don't have with other browsers.
 
Firefox works great on our school computers, but I don't suppose I have ever tried Java there. I use Mozilla Suite here on Linux, with no Java. I just don't encounter the need to use it. I think Mozilla is great, but I use IE on Windows and on my old Macs. I just use what works for me, so yes as said by others you won't find the perfect browser. It also depends on what you do. If it works, use it.
 
I decided to give Firefox another try and I'm VERY glad I did. This is coming from a former Safari die-hard. I downloaded the newest Release Candidate of Firefox 1.5 and it's great. As far as I can tell, it fixed all of my complaints with Firefox (middle button on Mighty Mouse no longer activates back and forward when you try to side-scroll, etc.) It's way snappier than any other version of Firefox I've used and seems to be very stable. I've only been using it one day, though, so far, but I really love it.

EDIT: It also doesn't seem to leak as much memory as Safari.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.