Once you get used to them, C++'s symbols become an acceleration - a productivity booster. You can type more code logic in less time, and it's every bit as understandable once you learn it.
But again, C/C++ isn't perfect, but it works, and it works well. It's true that C/C++ takes longer to learn how to read "fluently", but once you do, it's even more readable than BASIC variants.
I don't doubt that this is absolutely true... but that doesn't stop C supersets being a barrier to entry for a whole slew of creatives who might otherwise benefit the platform. Now, as someone who is having a good look at the iPhone, I like non-financial barriers to entry -- they make sure I can expect far less competition should I dive in. And maybe that's Apple's rationale, because there's an assured market for mid-level programmers who will expect some sort of C superset awaiting them. But game development has, by and large, been the preserve of this demographic since it began and throughout that time 95% of games have been dross. Me, I'd really like to see what a far wider creative demographic can do with the technology, and that means providing a far higher level interface.