jEdit requires only JDK 1.3, so the likelihood of it switching from gnu.regexp to java.util.regex in the near term is very small. Even just switching the plugin is unlikely, since very few plugins are JDK 1.4 only (WheelMouse is the only one IIRC). However, I believe that for jEdit 4.0final (to be released within days) Slava Pestov has either upgraded to a new gnu.regexp that fixes the .* problems or he has patched jEdit's copy of gnu.regexp to fix them himself; regardless, I recall seeing a changelog entry recently noting that some .*-related bugs have been addressed.