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.

People who are doing things for fun do things the right way by themselves.

I see myself as a technical person who chose a great project and a great way of doing that project.

I think people can generally trust me, but they can trust me exactly because they know they don't have to.

That's what makes Linux so good: you put in something, and that effort multiplies. It's a positive feedback cycle.

I have an ego the size of a small planet.

While I may not get any money from Linux, I get a huge personal satisfaction from having written something that people really enjoy using, and that people find to be the best alternative for their needs.