while i do agree with the sentiment (one of the reasons i'm asking for added wisdom), if a new guy comes along ... isn't reading and maintaining the code of someone "more senior" that actually works a good way to gain experience?

i totally admit that if i were doing esoteric tricks a la, say, thedamian ... i'd be worried. but we're talking about map here, not strange perl-OO bag-o-tricks that make your brain throb.