1. Balance is everything
2. Why and how to use the CPAN

By the time a Perl hacker reaches the point where they can use the CPAN effectively they have significant technical skills and cultural know how.

When said hacker is then starting to pass good judgement on effort vs. gain, complexity vs. simplicity, and all of those topics we have such a hard time with I think that J. Random is ready to take the final journey. This stage is much more intangible than any other learning stage, and is often walked alone, but arguably it's the stuff that makes you into a "real" programmer.

I don't think this journey ends, btw ;-)

We have a word for these kinds of musings in hebrew - it's the combination of the roots for philosophy and flatulence.