The great thing about C++ and many other low level languages is that, although out of the box, it's slow to code, but you can and should build up a code base of reusable code that makes coding lots faster.

Rapid Application Development tools such as Visual C++ are nice but they're not necessary. I don't use a GUI when building my programs. I've developed a system where my controls are automatically laid out easily according to another controls position.

Besides, you should be spending most of your time on the MEAT of your code, not the visual appearance. A good program is not good because it looks good; it's good because it runs well.