Linux developers, or rather its BDFL are hardly the best place to go to, when looking for sane, balanced opinions.

Considering all C programs are valid C++ programs (albeit some requiring minor alterations), it is possible to find a subset of C++ that is less painful to write than C, while also being as easy to grasp, simple, and maintainable, as C code. Google has an internal style guide that attempts to accomplish that, which I didn't agree with much, but oh well.