How to mod_rewrite user directories with a CGI?

Hello:

I am trying to create custom user directories using mod_rewrite with a
CGI script. I am running Apache/1.3.33 (Unix). I've added the following
rules to my httpd.conf file under the respective virtual host that they
apply to.

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteOptions inherit
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.mysite\.com [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite\.com
RewriteRule ^/~([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)$ /services/homepage.cgi?$1 [L]
</IfModule>

The only problem is, even with UserDir explicitly disabled, Apache
somehow notices I am trying to usurp control over user directories with
a CGI, so apparently at some stage after the rewrite it looks back at
the original request-URL again and secretly issues a getpwnam command
(evidenced by the error_log output), thus denying the CGI script from
running because it can never find the appropriate username in the
password file.

This only happens if I try to do rewriting on URLs with a tilde and a
CGI script as the target. Keep in mind, I do have ExecCGI enabled for
the entire site under this virtual host. And, this all works just fine
if I rewrite to a .html file, for example.

I suppose my last resort is to simply move the rewrite into the
..htaccess file under my site's htdocs. But that is really more of a
kludge than a solution. What should I do?

TIA,

--Randall

I found the solution. Apparently by doing a PT (pass through) it
bypasses the internal user directory hook entirely. According to the
docs, PT is specifically designed to aid in cross-compatibility with
other URL-to-file translation mechanisms. It's likely the tilde's
special meaning to the operating system (not necessarily Apache itself)
is causing some point of internal confusion, so a pass-through is
necessary.

--Randall