Polonius I think you putting a little to much in it bro . Lox will in fact destroy any thing that is close to them when a enemy is close to them . There can graze you stuff . an destroy it . same for wolf's if they can't get to a enemy they will bite the fence . even if they are safe behind wall's .
I also made a post on the death bug damage being over powered . they can in fact one shot a lox . I have screen shots of it .
Also if a death bug is on fire an attack a lox it is a insta give. due they also have the bufff from sneak attacks. on tame animals .

As for work benches stopping spawn's it is not cheese . i have had them spawn in my base an start wrecking stuff . also Gobs do in fact swim . an can swim into your base is there is a place for them to get into it .

My main build is in a very small i mean small place in the plains . i have swamp/meadow/dark forest around it.