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The J1 isn't comparable to the H1B – it's a 12 month visa which must be started within 12 months of graduation. There's also no suggestion of working in academia on a J1 – it's the "intern" visa. I'm on it now in San Francisco, with a view to getting a H1B.

J-1 isn't only for interns and trainees.

A lot of postdocs and researchers in universities and public labs are on a renewable (!) 2-year J-1, without quotas (in a for profit company the number of interns on a J-1 is limited). That's another visa that is vastly abused, but in a very different way :)

J-1's are issued for a maximum of 5 years per individual. Beyond that, universities can only hire postdocs etc under H-1B, because academic hires are exempt from the quotas. It's unlikely a postdoc-level position would qualify for an O-1.

An H1B with no caps. Colleges have no caps.