why can't c++ ifstreams review devices?

i knew i should never have started controlling c++ io, whole "type safety" justification red herring (does anyone really it's many dire problems?). anyhow, i did, detected uncanny inadequacy between ifstreams file*s plain aged record descriptors: ifstreams can't review device. anyone cruise reason why?

const char* route = "/dev/disk3";
char        b;

// works
file* f= fopen(path, "rb");
int i = fread(&b, 1, 1, f);     // advantage 1, success!

// does work
ifstream    cf(path, ios::binary);
cf.read(&b, 1);
bool        good = cf.good();   // advantage false, failure.