Have you had to change your screen in your kettle? I guess when whirlpooling your trub is in the middle. Isn't this where your "hopstopper" would be? Just wonder how you get around all the cold break in order to drain the kettle. I really like the idea of leaving the break in the kettle.
The hop screen has been removed and now I have the pickup tube short and off center so the chiller sits right on the bottom. I'm purposely leaving about 1/2 quart of wort/trub in the center depression. If I really wanted a tight whirlpool and clean wort, I'd remove the chiller and hop bags and continue the pumping for about 5 minutes, then cut it off and let it settle for 15 minutes.