The tough one in C++'s case is that it isn't as easy as you think to critique the choices that were made. In most cases they are consequences of following desig

The tough one in C++'s case is that it isn't as easy as you think to critique the choices that were made. In most cases they are consequences of following design principles (and ones that seem good) through to the end (and you may disagree with the design principles, but then you probably shouldn't use the language). With PHP, that isn't the case and Rasmus would be the first person to tell you that.