Apart from the fact that it gives

Argument "fred" isn't numeric in numeric ne (!=) line 1
0
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with -w, which admittedly the original did too.

The result of ($status!=0) will always be either 0 or 1 won't it?

In which case, the 0+ isn't doing anything? In fact neither then are the () nor the return?

I get the distinct feeling I'm walking into the trap here, but I cannot see it.

The result of ($status!=0) will always be either 0 or 1 won't it?

It will either be 1 or "" (the empty string.) All of the comparison operators work this way with the obvious exceptions of <=> and cmp. So do logical negation and most of the file test operators.

I get the distinct feeling I'm walking into the trap here, but I cannot see it.

Well, it wasn't really meant to be a trap but, yes, you walked into it. :-)

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";