Why is the "this" pointer in C++ a pointer and not a reference?

Question

Why is the this pointer in C++ a pointer and not a reference?

Are there use-cases that I'm missing that make "this" as a pointer more useful than a reference?

If not, are there any language design implications/considerations involved in having it as a pointer?

Answer 1

From Bjarne Stroustrup's C++ Style and Technique FAQ:

Why is this not a reference?

Because this was introduced into C++ (really into C with Classes) before references were added. Also, I chose this to follow Simula usage, rather than the (later) Smalltalk use of self.