I've used a cheap brinkman bullet smoker and now a WSM and a UDS, used water once in the brinkman. Read a lot about others using sand, crushed cans, or another type of heat sync in or in place of the water pan. When i do use my water pan, it's empty and I foil over the top of it to keep it as clean as I can. It does get some drippings in it but they come off rather easily. Chicken is almost always cooked without the water pan, and if i want to do a hot and fast butt or shoulder, i usually remove the pan. I also remove the whole middle section and put the grill grate over the charcoal ring and sear over the coals. Works really well, and you can still rest the lid on the base.
Sure tools were designed for a specific use and purpose, innovation takes place when you use those same tools in a new way expanding it's abilities and value.