Here goes:
Perl has scalars, arrays and hashes for data structures (scalars can be references). For passing a few things around, Perl uses lists. Lists are not goddamned arrays, goddamn your goddamned eyes, you goddamned sissy puspus programmer! Got it?
In all seriouosness, I think I understand much better now. Thank you very much for taking your (even more valuable now) time and producing a lucid explanation. This deserves to be written in some kind of global FAQ place, if it's not already there.