Quite frankly, even if the choice of C were to do *nothing* but keep the C++ programmers out, that in itself would be a huge reason to use C.
Linus TorvaldsI don't actually follow other operating systems much. I don't compete - I just worry about making Linux better than itself, not others.
Linus TorvaldsI started Linux as a desktop operating system. And it's the only area where Linux hasn't completely taken over. That just annoys the hell out of me.
Linus Torvalds