I had the model for CODE attributes in mind which happen at compile time:

(excerpt from attributes )

3.

    Code:

            package X;
            sub foo : lvalue ;

    Effect:

            use attributes X => \&foo, "lvalue";
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That's why Attribute::Handlers is putting such emphasis onto the compilation phase when the association happens.

but LEXICAL attributes seem to call import with each declaration at run-time (which is consistent with the fact that my has a compile and a run-time effect.)

2.

    Code:

            package Felis;
            my $cat : Nervous;

    Effect:

            use attributes ();
            attributes::->import(Felis => \$cat, "Nervous");
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maybe Attribute::Handlers should be clearer about this?

> There are ways how not to be wrong.

(A disturbance in the Force happens)

Now more potential in using attributes I see ... ;-) ¹

update

¹) to be more specific ... this behaviour means that the untie happens almost immediately after the tie, i.e. the potential for possible ugly side effects is practically zero.