> This means that effectively all C++ code would fail to compile under this implementation.
You're implying that all C++ code uses pointers and that's patently false. It's even false for C code. Pointers was the first thing C++ boxed with references. Box it more. Forks of C++ even exist, like GNU++ extensions. There's a whole spectrum of possibilities between that and where you are right now and I don't see why everyone needs to cross this chasm and embrace Rust at this cost.
Breaking one part of the language doesn't break everything for everyone. That's definitely a fallacy if it couches the justification I'm chasing here.
You're implying that all C++ code uses pointers and that's patently false. It's even false for C code. Pointers was the first thing C++ boxed with references. Box it more. Forks of C++ even exist, like GNU++ extensions. There's a whole spectrum of possibilities between that and where you are right now and I don't see why everyone needs to cross this chasm and embrace Rust at this cost.
Breaking one part of the language doesn't break everything for everyone. That's definitely a fallacy if it couches the justification I'm chasing here.