It has bitten me too, and I bet some other people too. I know about it know, and it is ok, but what really lacks is documentation about it.
I seem to recall that it triggers some awkvardness in solutions too, at times, as just because a regexp matches, it may not actually fill all of the $n variables, and old values may still be there, and that makes checking harder. I would have to get back on that with a real example though, in case it is my memory that fools me. :)
You have moved into a dark place.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.