I have read (in Re: Perl 6 RFCs) that something to this effect was in fact proposed for Perl 6: an extension of the =~ to a general modify-in-place operator. In that case, CheeseLord's problem would reduce to

$foo =~ lc;
[download]

which is distinctly simpler than the current scenario, but still not as tidy as his proposal.

On the one hand, I personally kind of like the idea of lc/uc/etc DWCM--on the other, just using the binding operator more generally would probably save all manner of backward-compatibility headaches.

In any case, I don't think the disposition of that particular RFC is yet known--there doesn't seem to have been a new Apocalypse since May, and I don't see the relevant RFC in the list he took care of in 1 and 2. The feedback on the RFC seems to have been largely positive, but of course it's Larry's opinion that counts in the end.

---

If God had meant us to fly, he would *never* have given us the railroads.
    --Michael Flanders