Okay, I now understand the map is flawed. The statement "More people should see bad examples and practices" only was to make anyone encourage more of the community to play and examine maps with poor quality to avoid replicating the issues. But however, this is entirely optional since many do not attempt the action described in the statement for ensuring the Quake community's general avoidance of repeating mistakes made in (let's just say) half of the maps released in 1996 and 1997, because if not then suddenly the quality's all over the place again as in that time period. Of course, being helped by the users at Func_Msgboard is great, but then this next paragraph is more than about aversion of flaws.

The shotgun and axe almost always go first, then usually the nailgun comes next and the grenade launcher afterward. Super variants come in later if any and if possible the lightning gun is accessed via a secret or often during the second half of levels where you get it. The later the map, the more likely a horde (a la AD) will be placed to accompany that weapon setup. The e1m3 final fight does have ammo, and the fiends introduced in the previous map e1m2 come into play here, so the more difficulty the skill (nightmare has the same number of monsters as hard), the higher the number of fiends. All the monsters were spawned upon opening the level hc0, and teleporting them in batches (which never happened in the map) is less of a horde. The ammo and weapons tend to be balanced for monster placement. And speaking of e1m2 and e1m3, the id maps are important for referencing because it's acceptable that both I and we are expected to be influenced by them.

Architecture/brushwork doesn't need to be ugly. Here's two examples. The triangle doorway was awful indeed. The bridge over the water was placed there so that speedrunning potential was easier, hence why the end was a surprise to Bloughsburgh.

Test maps are necessary for any of the maps I have had developed since this was released (at the moment I made at least 3 test maps for hc2 and am still making hc1). Such things were and are there to help anyone "experiment with architecture, lighting, traps, puzzles" and become normal with the editor of his/her choice.

Most custom maps I play are small and medium, the rest is large. The quality always varies, but ultimately Arcane Dimensions is so busy on brushwork it's not a noob's project (in fact sock, the creator of AD, had made texture wads, official levels for Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and Crysis Warhead, and custom Quake 3 Arena and Sin maps prior to Fallen from Grace, which was not his first Quake-related content). More experience means you're more likely to build a large (if not limit-breaking) map.

To ask questions is good, due to the fact that you are assisted by their answers to complete maps easier.

Ultimately I map for me, because mapmaking is fun as a hobby. 

The bridge-over-water ending also surprised Kinn. 

I tried to make func_door entity over there, but I gave up, so I made the triangle doorway to compensate for that. 

Peripheral Fundament is acceptable to defend as much as it is to criticize. It was fun that Gotshun liked it. 

I found it funny that PF was released a week after AD 1.5 came out. Big quality differences here and there. 

Let's say it is good to learn and experiment different design patterns and formulas invented by other mappers. But sometimes it is better to break rules, and invent own rules, it just needs some experimentig. Do not be afraid trying things out, sometimes it is worth the effort. 

Then again, sometimes it is better to close your eyes and keep on doing what you love, let the passion change you and not the others. 

Cool, thanks. 

Ultimately I map for me, because mapmaking is fun as a hobby.

That's a great reason to map! So do I! 

also, while killing 30 monsters with rockets with total impunity is not challenging, it's fun. like when you put 100vs100 soldiers in a RTS to see the fight.