As it stands you're returning a single scalar, so there isn't a great deal of overhead there. I imagine there's more overhead in the method call than the returning of the scalar. If however your method did this 
  return @{ $_[0]->{BigList} };

[download]
That would be copying the list, so I wouldn't be worrying about your method for the time being :)
HTH

_________
broquaint

In reply to Re: Array copy or encapsulation break? by broquaint
in thread Array copy or encapsulation break? by shemp

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