It really boils down to, what exactly is the core problem? You have only (but nicely!) delineated its ill effects.

The point is, something has to change.

Would (say) an off-topic section save the day? Probably not.

But it is:

• Simple to implement.
• Gives everyone, bar the belligerently myopic, what they want.

  Those still here that want to talk freely about non-Perl stuff have somewhere to do so without imposing their interests upon those that don't want to see it.

  Those that don't want to see it; just stay out.

• It can't make things any worse.

  It could make things better. The worst that could happen is that nobody posts there. The best, lots of people do.

  There is no rational reason not to try it. If the worst came to the worst, and too many people posted there; it could always be deleted.

I'm open to other ideas; but on past history, all those nay-sayers -- the cowardly little shits that yap anonymously from the side lines like enraged toy poodles whenever anything new or different is suggested -- haven't got an original thought between them; so waiting for them to come up with something is a fool's errand.