I think the reason I find myself falling into the same patterns is that Perl is often such a natural fit to the problem set. In particular, scalars, arrays, and hashes all map very naturally to a great many data processing tasks, so when I visualize the soloution, I'm already very close to Perl code.

Combine that with the rapid code-test-lather-rinse-repeat cycle afforded by an interpretive language, the wealth of shortcuts available to the fluent, and the shoulders of the CPAN giants to stand on, and the temptation to just go DO it is overwhelming.

Incidentally, I love the "1linegraveyard.txt" file idea.

Peace,
-McD