Faster how?
For you or for the computer?

If what you want is for the computer to be faster, do this in c.

If you are thinking of expense of coder/human time, vs the expense of extra hardware.. maybe it's fine the way it is.

I read some amazing stuff by Paul Graham about this kinda thing.. At least that's one of the things covered.. about convenience vs "speed".

Now, before i am stoned to death for seeming off topic here.. I think this does apply. He said so right there.. it works. I think perl is indeed a language about the coder, about convenience and what feels good to the individual coder. It's so promiscuously adaptive and optionally forgiving. I get the idea it is indeed for making it easier for the human being. As opposed to .. say.. assembly or just plain ol' cards.