To argue that Perl should provide a function to convert a scalar to a float because it provides a function to convert a scalar to an integer is a valid argument, but the premise is false. Perl doesn't have a function that converts a scalar to an integer.

int implements the mathematical function. It doesn't necessarily return an integer in the C sense of the word. For example, here's an example where int returns a float (NV):

>perl -MDevel::Peek -e"Dump int(2**32);"
SV = NV(0x184ac1c) at 0x226be4
  REFCNT = 1
  FLAGS = (NOK,pNOK)
  NV = 4294967296
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Type conversion is always done implicitely in Perl.
If Perl needs a string, the scalar will be coerced into a string.
If Perl needs a number, the scalar will be coerced into a number.
If Perl needs a boolean, the scalar will be coerced into a boolean.
etc.

Of course, you are free to produce your own conversion routines.

sub to_string { "$_[0]" }
sub to_num    { 0+$_[0] }
sub to_bool   { !!$_[0] }
etc.
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