I know what you mean and I agree about what is happening, but the perldoc is wrong!

it should say

 ee Execute right side as code then eval the
resulting string.
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NOT

ee Evaluate the right side as a string then eval the
result.
[download]

see:

lanx@lanx-1005HA:~$ perl -MO=Terse -e ' s/(x)/$1.$1/ree '
LISTOP (0x9f99668) leave [1] 
    OP (0x9fa6040) enter 
    COP (0x9f99688) nextstate 
    PMOP (0x9fa2f20) subst 
        LOGOP (0x9fa2e20) substcont 
            UNOP (0x9fa2f00) entereval [256] # --- string eval of resu
+lt
                UNOP (0x9fa2c58) null              
                    LISTOP (0x9fa2be8) scope    # --- precompiled $1.$
+1
                        OP (0x9fa1b28) null [181] 
                        BINOP (0x9fa2c38) concat [3]  
                            UNOP (0x9fa2cb8) null [15] 
                                PADOP (0x9fa2d30) gvsv  GV (0x9fd4c90)
+ *1 
                            UNOP (0x9fa2c18) null [15] 
                                PADOP (0x9fa2c98) gvsv  GV (0x9fd4c90)
+ *1 
-e syntax OK
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