If you watch the evolution of perl modules, you will see that one of Perl's strengths is that it can implement (or imitate) any feature anyone comes up with. Can you name some "feature" that can't be implemented in Perl? Now don't name something for which there is no (or little )demand.

Also, as computer speed increases, the speed argument disappears.

Perl will be around as long as there are computers. Even if it was "outlawed", it would continue as an underground language.