Thanks moritz for pointing out the speed difference which I had never considered before (not that I use & for sub calls myself).

If speed really matters, then only two solutions remain (at least known to me yet) for OP to invoke the sub (created by constant pragma) in presence of left argument quoting comma: P(), (P) (where P is some sub).

Time passes ... cdarke adds other options for invoking a sub in presence of fat comma.