Then main reason is because your version doesn't work. Given this file

C:\test>type junk.txt
1, 1.2, -3000, fred, "bill & ben", "there's no business like show busi
+ness", 'stuff, with, commas'
[download]

Your version does this.

C:\test>perl -naF, -e"INIT{ $,=$/} print @F" junk.txt
1
  1.2
  -3000
  fred
  "bill & ben"
  "there's no business like show business"
  'stuff
  with
  commas'
[download]

Note

• the extra space at the beginning of every line except the first.
• the unstripped quotes
• the quoted string with embedded commas split into seperate fields.

Whereas my version does this.

C:\test>perl -ne "my @a; eval qq[\@a = ($_);];print $_, $/ for @a" jun
+k.txt
1
1.2
-3000
fred
bill & ben
there's no business like show business
stuff, with, commas
[download]

I'm not sure what you have against using eval? Your exercising the very same parser everytime you do a list assignment in your program code.

---

Okay you lot, get your wings on the left, halos on the right. It's one size fits all, and "No!", you can't have a different color.
Pick up your cloud down the end and "Yes" if you get allocated a grey one they are a bit damp under foot, but someone has to get them.
Get used to the wings fast cos its an 8 hour day...unless the Govenor calls for a cyclone or hurricane, in which case 16 hour shifts are mandatory.
Just be grateful that you arrived just as the tornado season finished. Them buggers are real work.

---

---

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