I just don't like using last.

As well you shouldn't, at least in this case. 'last' is not a correct way of exiting a subroutine, and Perl should actually throw a warning if you run your code. The correct way of coming back from a sub is 'return', not 'last'.

-- 
I hate storms, but calms undermine my spirits.
 -- Bernard Moitessier, "The Long Way"