Absolutely right. My current preference to hand-rolled exceptions is based on my current environment, one that I'm reluctant to modify (it's git-bash running on an Azure cloud). However, I did just check, and autodie is present in this installation (5.22.0), so I will try it the next time I build a script.
Mostly, what also contributes to me attitude about error-checking is my background as a C programmer -- my experience has taught me to be pessimistic, and check for errors just about everywhere. :)
Alex / talexb / Toronto
Thanks PJ. We owe you so much. Groklaw -- RIP -- 2003 to 2013.