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    I would add to your point #2 that if you stored objects on the stack (imagine a dictionary object with hundreds of thousands of entries) then in order to pass it to or return it from a function you'd need to copy the object every time. By using a pointer or reference to an object in the heap, we only pass the (small) reference. Commented Apr 5, 2011 at 12:25
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    I thought 3 would be 'no' because if the object is being garbage-collected, then there is no reference in the stack pointing to it. Commented Apr 5, 2011 at 13:19
  • @Luciano - I see your point. I read question 3 differently. The "at the same time" or "by that time" is implicit. :: shrug :: Commented Apr 5, 2011 at 16:53