so perhaps the answer is "It depends on how you use it"?

Yep. That's the answer. It also depends on your requirements.

That said, it is "standard fare". It's well supported and documented. So, to answer the question in the title, I'd say "no" with the caveat that it, like many of Perl's features, can certainly be abused.

To see a standard and very good use for AUTOLOAD, perldoc AutoLoader. That's what it was developed for, I believe. It's very handy for modules like POSIX with lots and lots of functions, most of which may never be used by any one script.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";