I think that to break the rules, you first have to know them. If someone has to ask how to re-invent CGI.pm, then it's probably fairly likely that person isn't going to do it for the right reasons. I think those who re-invent wheels for the right reasons should have an understanding of the module in question, and not need to ask basic questions concerning it.

Quite honestly, I don't think that node was a valid question, but a troll. It had all the keywords designed to irritate (CGI.pm and re-invent...most people who re-invent CGI.pm do so unwittingly), and it didn't have a good reason for the re-invention to back it up. Update: I just read the entire node not just the root message, and it looks as if it was a troll.

So in this case, I think the advice was on target. There are many ways to do things, but if you don't even understand the task well enough to know how to start without help, then you will probably shoot yourself in the foot. Advising against self-mutilation is not a bad practice.