Yes, (but s/\$i/\$e/ :) we are even more likely to avoid indices altogether in Perl. But how we avoid using indices casts little light on how indices should be defined, so it doesn't really apply to my argument. It helps with the "we don't care as much in Perl" point. Since it is all academic at this point, I'm less concerned with how "important" it is which index scheme fits Perl best.