Why would I want to use Class::DBI?

I use it for the times when the SQL that I'd be writing is so pointlessly simple and repetitive that it's a better use of my time to get the computer to write it for me. There are enough hooks in Class::DBI for me to write the SQL that I need to write for efficiency reasons so what I gain on the swings I also gain on the roundabouts.

Do I use it all of the time? Hell no. Sometimes the way I'll be using my data is so far away from the Class::DBI view of the world that I'd spend more time getting around it than using it. For simple CRUD applications however it's a boon.

IMHO of course :-)