Perl 6 derailed the natural versioning evolution of Perl so the change to version 7 is really just a just regularizing the situation and is justified by that standard alone. Without the Perl 6 influence Perl 5 would have evolved into Perl 6 long ago - perhaps around Perl 5.10? I don't think there needs to be further justification for the version number change and for taking the opportunity to slip in few breaking changes that reflect about 20 years of best practice.

There is nothing wrong with challenging the status quo and suggesting improvements. Where this thread has come unstuck is in a small number of cases very common Perl idiom has been challenged with the suggestion that such practices should be abandoned. That tweaks a major nerve as most of those facilities in Perl are why many of us love the language. Removing or crippling post fix statements for example would break much more code than making strictures the default.

It is refreshing to hear that we are regarded as zealots. That is a validation of our passion for Perl and that we care what happens to the language. There is life in that puppy yet.