THIS WORKS for activestate - thanks++ ysth. thanks also to the other monks that have responded.

specifically, when i change the code to:

use File::Find qw(find);
use Cwd;

*name = *File::Find::name;

my @dirs = @ARGV;

my @legitdirs = grep { -d } @dirs;

find( { "wanted" => \&unlinkplus, "bydepth"=>1, "no_chdir"=>1 } , @leg
+itdirs);

# danger, danger. high voltage. use at own risk.
sub unlinkplus {
    warn "current dir   :" . cwd . "\n";    
    if (!-l && -d _) { # not a link, is a directory
    warn  "rmdir attempt :" . $name . "\n";
    (rmdir($_) && warn "ok..." ) 
        or warn  "cannot rmdir $name:" . " $!";
    } else {
    warn  "file unlink   :" . $name . ">";
    (unlink($_) && warn "ok..." )
        or warn "can't unlink " . $name . "$!";
    }
}
[download]

i get the behavior i require, ie removal of directories after the files in them have been removed, no problems. in summary: if you are using activestate perl for this kind of thing, ie directory removal, make sure you have the no_chdir option on.

if you are sensible enough to use cygwin perl, you will have no problems here. both versions of the script will work.

ps: re: tachyon's question (ie: rm -r) ; the restraining bolt fitted to prevent overtly sensible behavior is due to come off soon...