It would seem to me that that particular module's paradigm for extracting files from the file system could pose some serious memory issues if the rules that you specify result in returning nearly all of the files in the tree you specified

Er yes, but I wouldn't say this is an issue of the module so much as its grand ability to let you get on with it. Much like SQL will allow you to perform a SELECT *, it doesn't necessarily condemn SQL (the various issues of SQL are for another node I'm sure). With great power comes great responsibility and all that :) Anyhow you could always just use the iterative approach like so

use File::Find::Rule;

my $dir_rule = rule(
  directory =>
  not_name  => qr/^_/,
  start     => @ARGV,  ## or whatever
);

while(my $dir = $dir_rule->match) {
  ...
}
[download]

Lovely.
HTH

_________
broquaint