Final initialization in java can be postponed, how does this prevent against returning null inadvertently?
<p>In the "hidden features of java" question, someone mentions that final initialization can be postponed and provides an example:</p>

<pre><code>public Object getElementAt(int index) {
    final Object element;
    if (index == 0) {
         element = "Result 1";
    } else if (index == 1) {
         element = "Result 22";
    } else {
         element = "Result 3";
    }
    return element;
}
</code></pre>

<p>The poster says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It's too easy to miss a case and return null by accident. It doesn't make returning null impossible, just obvious that it's on purpose.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However I cannot wrap my head around what this means. How is this any different if element was not declared final? Wouldn't the else statement always ensure that null is not returned?   I'm thinking this is more a cosmetic thing rather than actually effecting the way the code operates.</p>
