[einhverfr]

I rarely resort to magic code in Perl. I sometimes do because I can't find a better way to do it, and then I comment it as such. Comments are wonderful things when used properly.... If only more programmers in any language used them properly...

I have seen so much really wonderful, readible, maintainable Perl code, that I don't think your characterization works.

You know if I come back a couple months later and don't like my code, I rewrite it based on my objections. It doesn't happen often but it does sometimes. It happens in any language.

If you value maintainability, you will eventually write maintainable code. The only flaw Perl has is in promoting valuing getting things done more than maintainability, but that's a culture of programmers, not the language. You can get good groups together than can write beautiful, maintainable code. I have done it. I know.