[1718627440]

As someone who's favorite language is C, I don't see what is wrong with that code? Sure, you need to extend it with a new subtype, but you also need to implement every virtual function anyway. And if you use switch instead of an if-else-chain the compiler will complain when you are missing a subtype.

[AnimalMuppet]

What's wrong with it is, when I extend with a new subtype, I have to fix up the locations that use the type. Potentially all of the locations that use it - I at least have to look at all of them.

With the polymorphic approach, I just have to create the new subtype, and all the users can do the right thing (if they were written with polymorphism in mind, anyway - if they use virtual functions on the base class).

[1718627440]

Why would I change the users at all instead of just modifying the dispatch method in the super type?