Forrest,
I've been using the Canadian 2-row for over a year and have no complaints. For a 55# bag, it's roughly $29.50, including shipping in the group buy (if my math is right).
Mostly links to some of my posts on sonsofsamhorn.net, including someone using a quote from me in their signature back in '04: ""The handicrapper is the Aston Martin of bathroom stalls." I had forgotten all about that.
I lost ~4 gallons of a stout a couple of weeks ago - same situation, beer all over the garage floor and an empty C02 tank. The spilled beer does point to a liquid-side leak. In my case it was a picnic tap that was pushed open when I shut the fridge.
My last batch was no chill, but that's more due to the pain of getting wort to pitching temps, rather than having to do with the water restrictions.
My lawn is mostly dead, and I wash my truck about once a year. I don't feel guilty nor unethical for brewing on a normal schedule during water...