We need a runtime model of meta data, not just the meta data itself. I don't want to parse or load / analyze classes just to use a piece of meta data. So annotations represent our runtime model. I also don't want to have a strong dependency on the container to write up new functionality. So if I want a @ReturnNonNull piece of 'meta data' and have an interceptor check that as a post condition on a method's return value, then I don't want to modify the container for that. So in the end I think we'll have the getAnnotation methods. View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4113775#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...