In part, the answer is that we avoid iostreams just because we don't
like them. :-)
More importantly, the answer is that we have specifically constrained
ourselves to a *very* limited subset of the C++ language and its
libraries. Doing so gets us greater portability, and it helps reduce
the fear and reluctance which is a very real demotivator for C
programmers who want to participate in the project.
-- Eric W. Sink, Software Craftsman SourceGear Corporation eric@sourcegear.com