Originally posted by Megahurts:

I would skip the hut altogether. Just sneak through the portal when you need to...as long as you are 'undetected', nothing will bother it.

Of course, if say a drake and a stone gollem are squabbling nearby it could take some collateral damage so there are risks...but a couple stake walls aren't going to help much in that situation either.

Most of the time an undefended portal by itself is fine, but it is really easy to be distracted and either forget to sneak or not realize something detected you at the last moment. On top of that, the chest, workbench, and/or roof can come in handy in some situations

I suppose it's something of a matter of taste, but I'm in the 'better safe than sorry' camp.