++nothingmuch for accepting TIMTOWTDI into your heart.

Most, if not all, agree that CPAN modules are very useful. I can tell that you agree with that as well. But there is no good reason why, if they don't quite do what you need or want, you should force yourself to make do. Great, so you're willing to put in the time to build yourself nothingmuch::DBI. There is nothing wrong with that.

<advice>
If I were in your shoes I wouldn't start from scratch; I would probably use other perl modules as springboards. I'd look at the source of whatever module I was dissatisfied with and see how I could change the interface or workings of it to suit my own needs and preferences.
</advice>

I think that the important part of the 'Don't reinvent the wheel' thing is to not start from scratch if you don't need to. It doesn't say 'Use what someone else has written unless you're absolutely sure there's nothing.' If what you need is something that looks and behaves exactly like DBI.pm, use DBI.pm. If what you need is close, but not quite, use DBI.pm as a departure point and modify it. If you need something completely different grab your Rizlas and roll your own. Doesn't mean you need to reinvent the Rizla.

LAI