For this problem, (s)printf indeed might be the better solution. But even if formats are "on the way out", i will still use them if they are the right fit for the problem, and sometimes they really are better than (s)printf. See Are formats in perl useful? for an interesting thread on the topic.

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)