Miles ahead? I think you have a long way to go if you think that just adding "use strict" and "use warnings" gives you such a headstart.

I always use warnings and strict (and know when to turn it off), but I've always considered them to be in the same class as the lights on my dashboard to remind me that the handbrakes are on, or that my oil level is low. Useful, but they don't make me a better driver. And they don't prevent accidents either.