Because it adds complexity, but doesn't deliver the gains in productivity or encapsulations that you hope for. C++ is a big language, and most people agree tha

Because it adds complexity, but doesn't deliver the gains in productivity or encapsulations that you hope for. C++ is a big language, and most people agree that "some parts" of it are useful, but they just can't agree on which parts are the good ones. You have to decide that for yourself. This is worth reading for a good suggestion of how to use C++ features sparingly: "Orthodox C++" https://gist.github.com/bkaradzic/2e39896bc7d8c34e042b https://gist.github.com/bkaradzic/2e39896bc7d8c34e042b Everyone has their own opinions, from dogmatically never use anything c++ to only stopping short of using boost. I will vary by project, using STL sometimes and not others, sometimes using classes lightly, other times sticking to POD, etc. I think you have the right idea when you say "Use it to get what you need done".