XML::Simple code is insane without a schema. It's much simpler with, but it's still longer and messier than with XML::LibXML. And it takes a lot of up-front time time to create the schema and lots of headaches from making mistakes. With XML::LibXML, I don't have to do any of that up-front extra work XML::Simple requires. so in addition to being a better production parser (simpler, 50x faster, etc), it's a better prototyping parser too.

You got me thinking, and I think you're probably right.

I'm playing with it now...