The only real downside of pack compared with sprintf, is that pack always left justifies the fields where sprintf can do right justification also.

If you need all the fields right justified, there is a simple trick involving 3 reverses:

@data = qw[ the quick brown fox jumps the lazy dog ];;

print pack '(A10)*', @data;;
the       quick     brown     fox       jumps     the       lazy      
+dog

print scalar reverse pack '(A10)*', map scalar reverse, reverse @data;
+;
       the     quick     brown       fox     jumps       the      lazy
+       dog
[download]

Doesn't help for mixed justification though.