I doubt that they will ever write an good OS in C++.

Yes they will, and they already have, considering all C code is C++ legal :-p.

Okay, I know what you actually meant, and I think I agree. I haven't done extensive testing myself, but from what I've heard, the overhead of objects would prohibit something as performance-oriented as an OS.

I also agree about the whole 'dilution' thing...I took a VB class in high school, and the teacher made me comment the function for the 'quit' button, which was as follows:

sub buttonQuit_Click()
    frmForm.Close()
end sub
[download]

She told me I had to comment it so 'future maintainers of my code would know what the function did.' My jaw dropped, arguments ensued, and I stopped taking computer courses at my high school.