diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 1b75b30..a29f98f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -135,9 +135,10 @@ To add a new test script:
 
 ## Compatibility
 
-We strive to make ddclient usable on a wide variety of platforms.
-Please limit yourself to Perl language features and modules available
-on the following platforms:
+We strive to find the right balance between features, code
+maintainability, and broad platform support. To that end, please limit
+yourself to Perl language features and modules available on the
+following platforms:
 
   * Debian oldstable and newer
   * Ubuntu, [all maintained
@@ -160,6 +161,12 @@ Exceptions:
     are skipped if the modules are not available. Effort should be
     taken to only use modules that are broadly available.
 
+You may use any core Perl module as long as it is available in all
+versions of Perl we support. (Though please make sure it is listed in
+the appropriate `configure.ac` check.) Stated another way: We are not
+interested in supporting platforms that lack some core Perl modules,
+unless doing so is trivial.
+
 All shell scripts should conform with [POSIX Issue 7 (2018
 edition)](https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/) or later.