The future is sandboxed Windows, there is no way around it.
So while XAML with C++ does indeed require WinRT and sanboxing. That is where future Windows versions will be.
For high performance graphics there is DirectX and it interoperates perfectly fine with XAML. There are quite a few examples, including VS templates.
As for Win32, the Anniversary edition will bring the productified version of project Centennial, which allows running Win32 applications as sandboxed WinRT apps.
This is intended as a porting aid to bring Win32 apps into the new world, not as as something to use for new applications.
So while XAML with C++ does indeed require WinRT and sanboxing. That is where future Windows versions will be.
For high performance graphics there is DirectX and it interoperates perfectly fine with XAML. There are quite a few examples, including VS templates.
As for Win32, the Anniversary edition will bring the productified version of project Centennial, which allows running Win32 applications as sandboxed WinRT apps.
This is intended as a porting aid to bring Win32 apps into the new world, not as as something to use for new applications.