CPAN is not just for modules though, there are a couple of applications on CPAN (ack by petdance comes to mind). As I am sure the author of Angerwhale is aware, CPAN (when used in this way) becomes a high availability, globally mirrored application distribution platform with automatic dependency resolution built right in. Oh yeah,.. and it's free and already installed on just about every *nix machine in existence. What more could a girl ask for?

Keep in mind that CPAN has no rules beyond your basic "reasonable person principles". It could easily be argued that such anarchy is what has allowed CPAN to become what it is today.