If that is what you take from it, you missed the point entirely.

I could care less about shared_ptr.

The issue is why should I care? Why is it on the dev to determine how a pointer should work? Why the dev has to go back and refactor old code to be new again? Why can’t the committee build non-breaking changes to the spec? I would rather have compile flags that make a pointer an “old pointer style” vs having to mentally juggle which ptr container to use, when, and why.

This is just one example. Gang of 3, becomes gang of 5, becomes mob of state… It’s just a giant mess.

that youieven think a compile flag could switch everything shows how little you understand the problem. it is fine not to understand - it isn't possible to understand everything - but stop talking as if there is an easy problem that would work.