Note that XML::Simple is actually a layer on top of XML::Parser

Sure, but that says nothing about the quality of the interface. XML::Parser is a high-quality, fast XML parser, but programming for it bites.

and the man page for XML::Simple is (paradoxically) much longer and more complicated than the one for XML::Parser.

I pity the fool that chooses modules based on the length of their man page! The only reason XML::Parser's man-page is so short is that it's missing a lot of useful stuff, like working examples. I'd much rather have a simple interface with a long manual than a complex interface with a short one.

it's not that hard to master.

Well, everbody's different, so I guess you might find it easier than most. Hang out on the perl-xml list and I think you'll see a pattern emerge - XML::Parser is pretty hard for most people to use. Almost everything else on CPAN that does the same job is more intuitive.

-sam