I often find myself in the exact same position. Should I use a tool that is currently available or do I build my own tool. Often I find that my only real argument to build my own tool is because in doing so I will be exposed to something new - ala GD, GD::Graph and GD::Graph::Map recently used on a web page found in my scratchpad.

Unfortunately though, I often have to work on these pet projects at home after work hours. I think one of the most rewarding things I have been involved in is a tool I build to "see if I could do it" which has become the standard at the outsourcing company where I am curently contracted, and is fast becomming a standard at other sites where some of my colleagues are situated.

I haven't seen anything I can't do with perl as yet, not that I am looking to find anything, but perl allows me to be creative while I am learning. For me this is why I Perl, at every opportunity!