I agree that an internship would probably be easier overall, but the organization would need to be approved as an "Internship Program" first. I think there's a limited incentive to do all the lawyering necessary to get only one person in for less than 12 months, which is why we don't see many J1 interns in the valley.

Plus, my word of warning about painful working conditions applies doubly to a J1 internship visa, which as far as I know doesn't allow a transfer between companies (or quitting) at all.