It depends on what I want to emphasize: I use EXPR or next; when a failure at that point is the exception. Of course, looking back at the original poster's code, there's nothing that says it is - and if not, I agree, I'd use a next if. I do so 95% of the time anyway. The flexibility of Perl's syntax allows a natural way of conveying emphasis, and I try to make use of that when appropriate. "Self explanatory" is usually my top goal.

Makeshifts last the longest.