No question this is probably a better offering for the majority of users... both G+ users and non... it just doesn't work with my flow. I like the analogy of wanting a radio and being offered a car. I could sit in the car and not touch anything else and just listen to the radio... but the fact is I now own a car... even sitting idle a G+ account (or car) has implications.
You never have to see or hear or deal with any parts of G+ you don't want to. You don't have to mix friend groups up or assign people to only one label etc.