All that's true, but it leaves something out, specifically that the original author, who made the mess, is looking to rewrite in Python. I'm suggesting that the Perl be cleaned up instead.

the original author, who made the mess, is looking to rewrite in X

I hate it when authors make this sort of comment. What they really seem to be saying is, "somehow the language I originally wrote this code in caused it to be crappy and not me."