As someone who dislikes C++ and would pick C over it any day, I can at least give you my impressions on the topic. C++ has several attributes that make it unappealing:
- Complicated objects. C++ has tons of ability to speed up OO, which makes the language very complex.
- Nonstandard syntax. Even today most C++ compilers support quirks that make ensuring successful and correct compilation between compilers difficult.
- Nonstandard libraries. Compared to C libraries, C++ libraries are not nearly as standardized across systems. Having had to deal with Make issues associated with this before I can tell you that going with C is a big time saver.
That said, C++ does have the benefits of supporting objects. But when it comes down to it, even for large projects, modularity can be accomplished without objects. When you add in the fact that essentially every programmer who might contribute code to any project can program C, it seems hard to make the choice to go with anything else if you need to write your code that close to the metal.
All that said, many projects jump over C++ and go to languages like Python, Java, or Ruby because they provide more abstraction and faster development. When you add in their ability to support compiling out to/loading in from C code for parts that need the performance kick, C++ loses what edge it could have had.
