Is the book selling? That is some indicator of interest or otherwise.

I have a (very) little interaction with RP, mostly cleaning up someone else's code which is almost always written in Python. In some cases it clean up the Python. In one case it was rewrite it in C++. In most cases Perl would be a more attractive option if I thought the people who own the gear would wear it, but I doubt they would. Each of these systems is essentially one off (an "edge of space" balloon project and a couple of remote data collection systems) so would be great candidates for Perl, if I could get buy in. The balloon project involved a bunch of mid level school students who came with the usual Python indoctrination to the extent that they were involved in the coding at all. The data collection systems were provided by the Japanese researchers with code written by students, collaborators or maybe a hired "processional". In any case none of it was pleasant to look at!

So yes, Perl on the Pi is worth it, if I could just find an opportunity to use it!