What's with the "put a floodgate between the brook and your well" thing? XSI and garfield both did it, and neither of their designs were going to flood... and I've had *way* more interesting waterworks without leaving a floodgate in place and up most of the time. (Like a waterfall down 10 z levels into a populated dining room, and then a well in the room itself. I'll admit I stick a floodgate up near the brook when I remember to, in case I ever want to modify the thing, but the well has never been closed off from the flow.)
Is it just paranoia, or a holdover from behavior in previous versions?