Well, I'll step up to the plate...
I'm running Win 98, not second edition. I'm running Java 1.3.1 (Although I seem to have a copy of 1.3.0 and 2 copies of 1.3.1 in my Control Panels through various means I don't understand.) I'm planning to dump all 3 and switch to the new Java 1.4.1 to see if the problem goes away. I am running LW 2.5.5.

I have on occasion gotten LW to close without "bringing the house down", Most likely on the times where I don't leave it running for a very long time.