I downloaded the source code. I found

#define USING_WIDE() (0)
[download]

in win32/perlhost.h. It appears to control the behavior, e.g.

    if (USING_WIDE()) {
        ...
        f = _wfopen(PerlDir_mapW(wBuffer), wMode);
    }
    else
    f = fopen(PerlDir_mapA(filename), mode);
[download]

So, it hasn't been totally ripped out; just the ${^WIDE_SYSTEM_CALLS} switch, to specify the wide mode, has been removed. --John