"Using" also allows you to have templated aliases, unlike typedefs. There's really no reason to use typedefs.
I imagine a lot of people are in that place with C++. Personally I've followed C++ for a long time as a hobby and it seems like it's finally getting to where it wants to be. But I'll talk to someone who works writing C++ and the idea of being able to use C++17 is a distant dream.
For Open Source developers and hobbyists though, you might as well take advantage of whatever features Clang+GCC+MSVC offer. I wish someone would standardize `#pragma once` so I don't have to feel guilty using it.
Modern c++ is awesome. I definitely appreciate being able use c++14 where I work (as well as 'pragma once'). I really look forward to being able to use c++17.
It is called C++ Modules Technical Specification. :)