It wouldn't even require an optimizing compiler just one that properly implemented templates. As megrimlock points out that would be a list of person not a list of pointers to person. Also his delete performance issue would not be an issue if done correctly. It would be a one liner of person_list.erase(person_iter).

So far as I can tell he is either trolling or has internalized procedural programming so much that he can't see any other path. I wonder what his thoughts on FP are.