> Using Saxon just requires setting saxon8.jar in the classpath. Xalan-J
> requires setting xalan.jar. So complexity of using Saxon is same as
> Xalan.

Yes, and both are quite a bit more complex than using xsltproc. :-(
Classpath is evil.

It's a bit strange that a java expert (advertising their latest java
book in their email sig) thinks that running a java program is hard...

Have you tried Kernow? - it's a point and click front end for Saxon,
intended for anyone who dislikes the command line.  (although its a
java program, too)