Answering my own question. Maybe someone has a better way, or warnings about this way.

• Create an executable shell script in your path called pdbserv:

  #!/bin/sh
  while true; do nc -l -p 7234; done
  [download]

• Start up emacs
• From within emacs, run perldb
• When it asks for the command, change it from "perl -d -e 0" to "pdbserv -e 0".
• Run your program with PERLDB_OPTS=RemotePort=localhost:7234 perl -d (scriptname) -emacs

Voila!

Next is to try it with diotalevi's Enbugger stuff. If I get a chance to try it out, I'll crosspost under his thread.

perldb and emacs both annoy me greatly with their excessively "clever" ways of activating and controlling the debugger and slave editor mode. This is far from the first time I've had to use a silly workaround to avoid argument manhandling and misquoting.

Update: Oddly, the --chickens version does not work, at least not here. emacs thinks you're trying to do something weird with stdin. Stick to -e 0 (or just 0).

Also modified the script to keep listening after a shutdown instead of exiting.