> ... setting out to learn C++ in 2023 is a major career limiting factor.
No it is not.
> Let's be clear, learning C++ in 2023 is like migration to Russia/China/Cuba
No it is not.
> you give away all your reasonable freedoms & funs to submit yourself to the mercy of a close group of "elites" who try so damn hard to dictate your life & work.
No you do not. It is not a slavery operation.
Learning C/C++ now is a good foundation as to why things like Rust and Zig are popular. Understanding the underlying mechanics is good. To say it's a major career limiting factor is hyperbole at best.