I think Perl should be the 51rst state ... (couldn't resist).

State of a language is an obtuse question. Perl has definitive niches and is finding new ones all the time. (Personally I think Perl would be a great fit to manage Java App Servers, JDK's, and classpaths. Screw ANT)

Perl will be around as long as it has loyalty. It reminds me of the culture that surrounded HAM Radio Operators prior to the PC.

Perl doesn't do it all nor is it the right thing for everything. It isn't the hottest, fastest, sexiest or anything elsest. But IMHO it's the best because it is a freely available tool that can probably get what you need done, (or probably has done most of it for you already).

To keep the automobile analogy rolling. An old Oldsmobile 442 will get you down the highway faster with real detroit steel surrounding you, A new BMW might be more politically correct, but it ain't no 442. Hmmm probably not a car that anyone around here even remembers *sigh*.

Anyhowzers, There is no way for Java and PHP to 'muscle in'. Perl is unique in that instead of 're-inventing' the wheel on top of an OS it exploits the OS directly. It exposes it's implementation with pride instead of obfuscating itself in layers of abstraction. I have to code in multiple languages to pay the bills, but I still think Perl is a huge key in making the full power of a computer accessible to the average person if they want it.