If that is the case, it's a good thing. I'm stuck in a big dept using C++ for very high-level stuff that anyone else would absolutely not use it for.

I've probed several times, and the most senior SWEs have no reason for this choice other than some personal issue with anything new, which to me sounds like a job security thing. Over time, they've resisted other new tooling to the point where management has ended up forcing things, but they're still holding onto C++. Some lower-grade, lower-ego engineers armed with higher-level tools would replace everything in a more maintainable way for a lot less money.