with both '=' and 'eq', and the output was the same both times: correct, which is exactly what I wanted it to be.

That is what they all say

my %foo;
my %bar = ( 1, 2 );

if( $foo{1} = $bar{1} ){
    warn "assignment is assignment";
}

if( $foo{1} = 'any true value'  ){
    warn "assign any true value, expression is true";
}
warn "foo eq bar ", int  ( $foo{1} eq $bar{1} );
__END__
assignment is assignment at - line 5.
assign any true value, expression is true at - line 9.
foo eq bar 0 at - line 11.
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Just because the output is the same doesn't mean much, even a broken clock is right twice a day

Think of it a different way, you have a problem you can't solve and you're asking for help in solving it --- maybe, just maybe, those you're asking for help know something you don't know