He used C++ for pragmatic reasons, not for the shiny features (mostly for user interface programming which Qt is best for).
https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/bnfi25LuAMd https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/GkLj5pyvJ7D
https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/bnfi25LuAMd https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/GkLj5pyvJ7D
As someone that enjoys C++, in spite of its security flaws inherited from C, I see as a victory for the C++ community that a C++ hater like Linus is forced for pragmatic reasons as you say, to make use of it.