Is a counter-mounted basin tap a recipe for floods?

[FootprintsInTheSnow]

My plumber reckons we'll regret our choice of countertop basin plus separate counter mounted tap like this .

He reckons fixing onto a counter is never as rigid as fixing onto ceramic. He predicts leaks and DC 'turning' the tap away from the basin.

Is this BS, or is it really a problematic design? Does it depend on the choice of counter?

Hmmm. I was about to say BS, but then I thought, I've seen this kind of design in restaurant loos and the tap does quite often seem to be a bit loose/wobbly. I would guess it's better with a stone or ceramic counter top rather than wood since wood shrinks/expands.

I have a similar arrangement, and my tap is very wobbly. It's been 'fixed' three times and is still not right, so we are about to replace the tap in the hope that a better quality one will improve things. But it may not...

We have something similar although the bottom of the tap spout is lower than the height of the bowl so can't be pushed out of the bowl. The tap is screwed into mdf and isn't wobbly at all after 6 years.

I must admit we put it in pre-DC and if I were doing it again I would not choose a basin without an overflow hole...

single-hole taps are always easier to turn that two-hole or three-hole.

Deck mounted taps are much more inclined to dribble water onto the deck, even from wet hands turning them off.

Timber, MDF and chipboard do not tolerate water.

the one in the picture looks very difficult to clean or wipe dry behind the sink.