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The usual stuff:

"...C++ forces programmers to subset the language"
"...C++ was pushed well beyond its complexity threshold"
"The syntax is terrible ..."
"I don’t like C++; it doesn’t feel right..."

Like most programmers, I suppose, I use a clean subset of C++, because C++ IS an improvement over C.

The problem is C++ programmers don't agree about the "clean subset of C++" .

What's the definition of "clean subset" ?

It's more or less like a basic C++, with no surprises:

1) no multiple inheritance;

2) no operator overloading except perhaps operator=

3) no exceptions -- use a public function to check if everything is alright;

4) no initialization with the (); write everything with =

5) as little STL as possible, perhaps string;
With string you cannot construct with a predetermined size, even if you know that
the string will never grow. There is constructor but you have to supply a character.

6) no iostream -- I personally find it anti-natural;

7) no templates

8) no struct

9) always construct with new and a pointer like:

BoOkDescription *book = new BoOkDescription(); // this doesn't use the stack.

but

10) namespaces are okay.

It's C with classes.

We can debate on the merits of everything up to point 10 but reaching point 1 I don't see if you have any need even for classes since you're not about to do oo or template-based programming therefore you don't need c++

I find C++ fascinating too. Unlike most developers I know, who proudly vaunt for their C++ experience - most of which probably happened during college - and have long moved to Java/C#, I have been going the opposite direction. Started with scripting languages for a couple of years, then moved to Java for a good 7-8 years period and now slowly started experimenting with C++. Needless to say I am totally loving it.

I don't feel forced to use only a subset of c++, nowadays compilers are standard-compliant enough - i support template-based code for gcc, vc++ and intel with no problems. I suppose there still are things I discover about it but this is what keeps it interesting. C++ is the only language today that is a potentially good solution for all software projects. The problem at present is the lack of a good web framework and ORM package but this is not due to a deficiency of the language.

C is simple and straightforward for system programming. C++ It is a mess of a language it wants to be C but in a Frankenstein way. If I need something more high level I could use Java or C# for OOP or Haskell or Lisp for Functional. But really I like C better than C++.