Give the don't reinvent the wheel bit a break.

I would, if you would make clear that you're inventing an inferior wheel than what is already readily available.

I know I've made that point here before.

I don't mind people experimenting in the privacy of their own cube. Or even post it here as a request for comment and feedback.

But when they post it here as a solution, without disclosing that it is inferior to an existing solution, I believe it is necessary for it to be properly annotated as such by those who know. It's not personal: it's to prevent harm coming to others who cannot distinguish the real thing from a failed imitation.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker