Maybe I'm just biased, but since CGI::Ajax can't do all the Javascript you need, I just don't see the point in using it at all.

No module ever claimed to Do It All For You, except perhaps some module from the Acme namespace.

CGI::Ajax does a specific task, and it does it pretty damn well and in a KISS way. Of course it is not good-for-all and constrains you in e.g. always passing a parameter fname for the perl function callback in the XHTTP query, but then fully-fledged Ajax Toolkits aren't any different: they put you on rails.

CGI::Ajax is a very good example of a 'module at its best': it solves a particular problem without getting too over-featured and provides a nice wheel that hasn't evolved into a monster truck. <update> Although it has some issues. See my follow-up below. </update>

_($_=" "x(1<<5)."?\n".q·/)Oo.  G°\        /
                              /\_¯/(q    /
----------------------------  \__(m.====·.(_("always off the crowd"))."·
");sub _{s./.($e="'Itrs `mnsgdq Gdbj O`qkdq")=~y/"-y/#-z/;$e.e && print}