mysql_enable_utf8 is not an auto feature, so it has no effect unless enabled. If it is in effect and I also use Encode methods, this is like shooting yourself in the foot :)
True enough. I just thought I'd better warn you it won't work if you ever enable the utf8 features in DBD::mysql. Also, if you can use mysql_enable_utf8 it should be more efficient, if possibly less safe (since it just sets the utf8 flag on the right columns, and doesn't do any validation of the actual data).