For the kernel, or for the user-mode applications? C++ features aren't very useful for kernels. Presumably the author is more familiar with C and "C with classes" C++ and someone can rewrite the user-mode apps in modern C++ later.
Both. SerenityOS, includeOS, Managarm used Modern C++ for Kernel. For example, Managarm used coroutines and Templates also RAII stuff like lock_guard in it's kernel.
It is foolish to assert that "C++ features aren't very useful for kernels". C++ features are useful for programs, particularly big programs. Kernels are big programs.
Certain people have been doing this sort of thing forever. It was never a good idea. Whenever you probe why they thought it was a good idea, all the reasons (where they are expressible at all) turn out to depend on falsehoods. Most usually, though, it amounts to laziness about learning anything new.
You can see effective use of Modern C++ in SerenityOS, to excellent effect.