WayOfTheFourElements
Hero
I don't think that's it.
I love the DoMT for it's chaos factor. It (or a variant) has made an appearance in most of the campaigns I have run, and many of the campaigns I have most enjoyed as a player. (Though, as I've said, I have also seen some promising campaigns that were ended by its introduction.)
Our difference, as far as I can tell, is that you think the vats are a good illustration of what an exploration encounter should be. To the extent that they are fairly open ended (not on rails) I would even agree.
However, although I think it's a perfectly fine encounter, I do not consider it a good example because I think that kind of exploration encounter should be used with discretion. I certainly wouldn't want every other exploration encounter to be a run in with a DoMT-variant, would you?
Ah...OK...
No. I wasn't advocating for the use of that type of encounter with absurd frequency, simply that it demonstrates the necessity of choice.
The most traditional exploration encounter is the downward leading staircase, which presents the players a choice between more or less danger.
Another is whether or not to disarm the trap as risk of it triggering on a failed roll.
A third is whether or not to steal the gems from the statue's eyes.