This sounds like it's written from the point of view of implementing something inhouse. I fail to see how FPGA programming will be relevant if one wants to distribute software for consumers (or am I technologically clueless...).
I do agree with the writer that with each release, C++ has become more and more complicated, seriously hurting the maintainability of C++ code.
No one has moved out since 1983, and new additions just keep on coming.
On a more serious note, any old system acquires cruft with time and you don't always have the luxury of throwing away pieces or even restarting from scratch.
C and C++ can be made to shine in some ways that I get the strong impression many people who happen to not have the same experiences will never appreciate, and perhaps that's not even a bad thing, maybe that just is.