My feeling is, since they're not quite part of the core, to play safe, I'd rather not include them

I think this is one of the silliest reasons not to use a particul module. I guess you'd roll your own database access, and graphics code, because DBI and Tk aren't in the core?

I think you first should decide which OO style you'd like to use. Perl doesn't give you much on OO, it let's you do all the dirty work, with all its rope to hang yourself. (Perl's attitude towards OO is like C's attitude to memory management: almost non-existent, with deep and dark pits). If you go for the de-facto "standard", the dirty and dangerous grab-bag hashes, there are lots of OO modules that may help you on CPAN.

Personally, I'd go for a more sound approach, like fly-weight or inside-out objects. I don't think there's much helper modules for those styles out there, but that's, IMO, a small price to pay.

Abigail