The reason you should use MakeMaker's prompt function is because
it detects that it is not running interactively ... $default will be used without prompting. This prevents automated processes from blocking on user input.".
Prompting from tests is just not a good idea, and prompting on STDERR is not a fix (just screws up automated testing).
MJDsays "you can't just make shit up and expect the computer to know what you mean, retardo!"