For me, the big problem is libraries. Even a personal file of common functions doesn't seem that well supported, and there just doesn't seem to be a way to get third party libraries.

When I start needing helper functions and splitting it into multiple lines is usually when I reach for Python instead. And then sigh, because my program will be 2 to 3 times bigger. Ruby is a great awk replacement, but unless other people at your job know it, you can't expect others to maintain it.