Hmmm, I don't think dead ends are a bad thing. Well, they shouldn't be overused, but can be used strategically. Sometimes I think it is nice for a player to take a risk in order to become better. Having to go into a dead end to get a powerup or something. It just makes it a lot more fun with guessing games and such wondering if it is safe to get that powerup you want or finding out where your enemy is in a duel so that you can know if it's safe to get the powerup and blah blah blah. I can go on for hours.

Then again it's also fun to put somehting powerful way in the open where everyone can get it. Man, you can have some interresting battles that way.

I kinda think that the first option is nice for CTF where ppl have to try and stay alive for long. The second option is a nice one for battle, it encourages huge fights in the area