If aspenite is unattractive to you, face it with 1/8" plywood. Still easy to attach items to the aspenite base. Having said that I'm sure whatever you do will be outstanding as usual. Your range of skills is quite impressive.
Water is not compressible and therefore cannot store energy. Failures may create small flying pieces but they will not travel far. Air/gasses ARE compressible and will store energy. Pipe failure will release the stored energy and can launch deadly shards. OSHA does no allow PVC for pressurized...