One case where helper class TypeReference is often needed is for code like:
List<ValueType> values = mapper.readerFor(new TypeReference<ValueType>() { })
.readValue(source);
and similarly for Maps. It should be easy to allow a short-cut like:
List<ValueType> values = mapper.readerForListOf(Value.class)
.readValue(source);
Map<String, ValueType> valueMap = mapper.readerForMapOf(Value.class)
.readValue(otherSource);
similar to what jackson-jr exposes.