I am sorry, I was only thinking about the analogy and not the original topic :-)
As a motorcycle rider, inattentive car drivers are a sore subject.
As for C++, I agree with your last comment. I guess without the gravitation pull of a large existing C++ code base or an existing team of experts or as essential library, there is not much incentive to start new projects in C++.
I too am a firm believer in multiple layers, each possibly using different language/paradigm. I find the functional core with controlled and imperative edges approach very appealing.