It doesn't have to be a dichotomy. Exceptions can be used when you need to fail the operation and jump in an overall exception handler multiple functions above in the call stack. Success/error return values (preferably when they are of different types and the compiler can make sure you're not using the success type in the error branch, a.k.a. the Optional<Success, Failure> idiom) can be used when you can check for and handle the error right away.

People who use exceptions won't argue in favour of code like the following:

eval { step_1(); 1; } or handle_error_1();
eval { step_2(); 1; } or handle_error_2();
eval { step_3(); 1; } or handle_error_3();
eval { step_4(); 1; } or handle_error_4();
[download]

That's just more typing for the same result as

step_1() or handle_error_1();
step_2() or handle_error_2();
step_3() or handle_error_3();
step_4() or handle_error_4();
[download]

On the other hand, if an error means the whole operation should be aborted and the individual steps signal that by raising an exception, we can write it as

try {
 step_1();
 step_2();
 step_3();
 step_4();
} catch {
 handle_overall_error();
};
[download]

and still be sure that when the error happens, (1) any resources will be cleaned up safely by desctructors and (2) the following steps won't be taken.

By the way, why do you dislike eval? I mean, I don't like eval EXPR either, but what's wrong with eval BLOCK?

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