... because these are all in common use in other languages.

I have to disagree with this part. Unit tests and documentation have been in short supply in most of the positions I've worked (most of which were not in Perl). It's definitely getting better, but the grass is not always greener...

Despite the complaints from the OP (with which I can really sympathize), I am at least guardedly hopeful. I haven't had to argue the benefits of version control with any job in the last few years. That was a constant battle in the beginning of my career.<shrug/>

I'm afraid that change comes slowly.