a whole heap of key=value pairs, easy enough. but I want to see if I can optimise what I already have done

I guess that depends on how you define "optimise". That could mean reusing existing code (thereby optimizing development time) unless there is a reason not to (such as computational speed, which is another thing that can be optimized).

Since your input is a bunch of "key=value" pairs, you could use one of the many config modules that parse ini-like files. 

use warnings;
use strict;

use Config::General;

my $string = 'to=<adam.clark@ngv.vic.gov.au>, relay=monet1.ngv.vic.gov
+.au[10.10.10.20]:25, delay=0.54, delays=0.06/0.02/0/0.46, dsn=2.0.0, 
+status=sent ';
$string =~ s/, /\n/g;

my $conf = Config::General->new( -String => $string );
my %hash = $conf->getall();

while( my ( $k, $v ) = each %hash )
{
    print "$k => $v\n";
}

[download]
Prints: 
to => <adam.clark@ngv.vic.gov.au>
relay => monet1.ngv.vic.gov.au[10.10.10.20]:25
dsn => 2.0.0
status => sent
delay => 0.54
delays => 0.06/0.02/0/0.46

[download]

In reply to Re: Adapting parenthesis in regexps by bobf
in thread Adapting parenthesis in regexps by cyzza

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