A less worse compromise: plain and simple C.
I've no big complaints about the langauge itself, or it's syntax so far. I picked C++ over C, because I'm used to working object oriented. That too has it's religious defenders and contractors - and I can definitely see it's downsides. But in the end it's a tool, and you prefer the tools you're good with, right?
All that pointer-stuff is definitely a bit difficult to get into at first, though.
Sounds like a skill issue.