Questions about Flash Player plugins. Java & JRE

Regarding "Flash" Player software and/or plugins;
1. How many different "Flash" Player plugins are there? Just how many are really needed? It seems there is always a site that needs another 'plugin'.

Regarding Java and JRE;
1. Is there something other than that bloated JRE download that turns into a 140+ MB install that will work or could be subsistuted?
2. What won't work if it isn't installed?

I use Opera V9.27 and run XP Pro w/sp2 (if that matters).

 

Those are both 'Adobe' programs, correct?
I always turn off 'auto updates' with every program, especially the O/S and uninstall before I reinstall.

 

Quicktime is Apple, correct?
Whats' the difference? Just different formats?

 

But, that puts forums as this out of business..........