So because some programmers aren't bright enough to maintain their code properly (which includes comments), comments aren't as useful?

Code has an inherent advantage over comments in that it is actually executed, which means that obvious nonsense (eg syntax errors) is caught immediately and massively improves the chance that other errors (eg stupid thinkos of various kinds) are caught as well. Comments don't get this kind of testing, and so lack this valuable feedback.

Can you (with a straight face) seriously make that argument and say the flexibility of Perl is good in the same sentence?

Therefore the flexibility of Perl is good in part because it assists in addressing the issue above about comments.

Obviously if comments are poorly written, and poorly maintained they're not going to help. Same with poorly written and poorly maintained Perl code, but you don't see us stop using Perl do you?

For a more detailed explanations of what I think about commenting, see Re (tilly) 2 (disagree): Another commenting question,. Unfortunately that discussion was carried out half in posts, and half in private chats. The private chats was a more positive conversation, and I regret that the public record that was left is more negative than it needed to be...