There was a time when Java was a niche language for web applets. There was a time when Python was a niche language you tossed into your "real" program so users could extend it. There was a time when C was a niche language for Unix development. Likewise C++ was this niche object oriented thing that didn't even compile to object code... it compled to C.

And developers would look at the niche language devs and go, why write in C? I have my COBOL and most production code is written with it. Java? Why? I have Powerbuilder and Delphi. Most of the developers with any new language are creating CRUD apps, because well, that's what most computer programs do.