Stuck in the Slow Lane

Been writing in C++ lately.  Man, I feel disconnected, alone, naked.  So many pointers, deref'ing, addresses, pseudo-maniacal linked lists all over the place.  Where's ArrayList when you need it, or managed arrays.  I want my managed code back.  Please, give it back. 

Was this what is was like to program, you know, before?  I don't remember it being so harsh.  I suppose you never do until after you've been shown the way.  Then everything becomes so much easier, you get so much more productive, your brain is happy, and you forget the past, forget the struggle, the fight against the machine, the compiler and the language. 

Header files.  Need I say more?  Giant header files, ever member function listed.  Monstrous class declarations, poorly factored code.  It's a nightmare.  You laugh.  You think you are free of the horror.  But just wait.  It sneaks back up on you.  Before you know it your back in the hard-cruel world, stuck in the slow lane waiting for a compile.

Wouldn't it be grand if the operating system refused to load apps written in anything but IL?

Matt