Update!

The issue *really* was that my copy of Tie::File v0.95 was corrupted...

many thanks to everyone who peeked in!

I think i've got this licked, but there's some lingering questions. Here's the facts as i've found them:

1. Tie::File v0.95 appears to have an issue at line 699
   • This is what STDERR complains about
   • The same error appears for my complex script as the simple test script
2. v0.93 appears not to have this problem
   • line 699 is a comment, so obviously there was a change ;-)
3. Accusing such a storied mod as Tie::File of having a bug is more than i'm ready for.
   Still, shouldn't someone tell the author?

For what it's worth, the 0.95 version was installed at: /usr/lib/perl5/5.6.1/Tie/File.pm and the 0.93 at: /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.6.1/Tie/File.pm

When i renamed the 0.95 version, Perl 'found' the 0.93 and started using is (i expected an error).