sub max (*@args) { 
    if want~~Str { reduce {$^a gt $^b ?? $^a :: $^b} @args }
    else         { reduce {$^a > $^b ?? $^a :: $^b} @args }
}

$biggest_str = ~max @values;  # Str context, so use gt
$biggest_num = +max @values;  # Num context, so use >
$biggest_num =  max @values;  # scalar context, default to >