WebObjects was essentially the precursor to the large j2ee app servers such as WebSphere or WebLogic and not a priority at all after the Apple purchase. They moved WO over to Java and dropped the price to $699(IIRC), although by that time no one cared. I can't think of anyone other then Apple that in 2004 used WebObjects.

Still, I dont think he was wrong. WO/Enterprise Object Framework was incredibly influential in server side java which I believe is still the most popular 'enterprise' language currently.