Man Bjarne Stroustrup is like the guy in college who flatly refused to conform in any way whatsoever no matter how good or bad it would have been for 'em. It's more of an oppositional personality disorder ;) That kid grew up and invented, because of course he did, C++.
It might have something to do with various symbols that C uses not being convenient to type in many non-US keyboard layouts. In the standard Danish one, ~|^ all require the use of AltGr.
