On: Suppose I wanted to write a C++ based web application...

[WALoeIII]

Premature Optimization FTL.

[alecco → WALoeIII]

Tell that to nginx. "10-fold increase in the last twelve months."

http://survey.netcraft.com/Reports/200806/

[brianr → alecco]

C makes perfect sense for nginx, as it's a web server, not a web app.