There is no reason to use Text::CSV_XS or any other CSV module. For a csv file? Why is that?

Because perl natively supplies a simple and efficient tool to do what the op wants.

It is evaled when you have /ee, that the second "e" evaled, the expression. Please read it up.

I originally had two ee's, but that was so slow compared to split(), I changed it to one e.

It is, however, syntax checked at compile-time.

++ perl savoir-faire.