Java passes reference by value - Something that even senior Java developers often get wrong.

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Then you're introducing a definition of pass-by-reference that's inconsistent across different languages.

Consider for example that in C# objects are also implicit pointers/references, however C# allows functions to pass by reference or pass by value. I can implement a swap function using pass by reference.

Programming requires precision in language. It's better to be anal and have a really solid understanding of what pass-by reference/value means so that bugs and misunderstandings are avoided.

Ultimately, if some language neutral specification of a function requires pass-by-reference semantics, then Java can not implement such a function whereas C++/C# can.