[pif]

As @andersa correctly pointed it out, put the function in a header file and refrain from inventing useless complications.

How could this post get to the front page of Hacker News?

[exabrial]

My guess is it's the combination of:

1. A pushback against code standards a lot of organizations have

2. The ego a lot of individuals have that is incompatible with #1

again, just guessing