The Java folks have no more control of corporate policy than the Solaris folks did. You're fooling yourself if you think they've got any control whatsoever.

Did those Java folks also decide to start extorting customers?

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/16/oracle_targets_java...

If the answer is yes - then they're no better than the Oracle folks they work for. If the answer is no, then they clearly have no say in what REALLY happens when it comes to Oracle's decision making.

Oracle is suing companies that explicitly enable commercial features of its commercial JVM. Next up: Microsoft broke my "free" copy of Windows XP, are they evil? /s

I don't have direct experience of this, but the general accusation I see is that companies hire Oracle to set up their systems, and Oracle's own people swear on a stack of bibles that the setup is in compliance, but behind the scenes they'll have enabled things that require more expensive licenses, and which Oracle knows are enabled and knows they can come back to shake you down for (sorry, "audit") later on.

How are they extorting customers ?

They made their implementation of Java a commercial product and have been supporting OpenJDK for those that don't want to purchase it. They are are well within their right to sue companies who are illegally using a commercial product without a license. Just like Microsoft et al regularly sues companies who are pirating their software.

And no the developers who are responsible for Java are not lawyers in their spare time.

Are they really still there?

Yes.