Um.... php is a web scripting language. You *can* make it do perlish command line type stuff, but it's not really designed for that. I don't think the developers of php are trying to make it grow up to be/replace perl.

For myself, I find php faster to develop dynamic webpages in than I do perl (note the "for myself" at the beginning there.... this is undoubtedly a mater of experience). I use perl for everything else I do (ie that doesn't output to the web).

I hope that php can grow to be as powerful and flexible as perl is... within its own arena (dynamic web pages). I'd like to see some more perlish flexibility. I'd like to see more perlish compatibility (of code). Why bash the differences?... embrace them, and utilise them.