in reply to Re^2: Checking if hash value exists without implicitly defining it
in thread Checking if hash value exists without implicitly defining it

Yes, you're correct! Originally omitted exists when not testing for the final value--then overgeneralized. However, testing $Hash{$neededVal}{param1}{key1} would fail when $Hash{$neededVal}{param1}{key1} == 0, but expliciting testing the value, as you've shown, would remedy that.