It's not moot. I'm a beginner, and I specifically asked for comments on the approach as well as alternatives.

I am looking at your code and, if I'm honest, going, huh? at certain points, but I guess I'm just going to run it, stick in some evals or possibly learn Data::Dumper and try and work it out.

so a genuine thank you for taking the time to write out an alternative approach

Steve

(and in response to Bloodnok's sig - I firmly believe that initiate vastly overstates my abilities)