Please cite some references on it being a memory hog, and in relation to what?

Using C++ makes the assumption that the developer can manage memory a lot better than the JVM. Especially when said developer(s) are developing high level business or web applications for example. And do you really expect developers to spend time writing code that manages memory as opposed to shipping functionality.

I don't know if you have used Java, although I get the impression that you've written C++ programs. You shouldn't be so hasty in pinning your colours to the mast so aggressively over a language. As many people on HN have pointed out it's not the language, but what you do with it that counts.