Deprecated implies they once endorsed it.

Writing ref $proto || $proto allows the caller of the constructor to create a new object by calling:

    $obj -> new;
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Some people (who are seen as "knowledgable") claim that $obj -> new confuses the hell out of them and that hence constructors should not contain ref $proto || $proto.

I think that's silly. If something confuses you, don't use it. No need to jihad the thing that enables you to get confused.