Googled a lot, found a lot some bulleted lists repeated across many sites, but not so easy to find the real reasons that might drive a person to consider EJB in regard to other options.
Finally, I've found a really a good article from Humphrey Sheil that was written at the year of 2000. It encompasses the fundamental questions that one should ask ourselves while looking at this technology even after a decade has passed.
Below is the introduction:
To EJB, or not to EJB: that is the question.Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous licensing;Or to take arms against a sea of potential overheads and features,And by opposing end them? To roll your own: to reinvent the wheel;No more; and by reinvent, to say, we continueThe heart-ache of low-level systems maintained in-house,and the thousand natural shocksThat flesh is heir to; 'tis a consummationDevoutly to be avoided.
You can read the whole article at this location: http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-12-2001/jw-1207-yesnoejb.html?page=1
