RAH is correct, anything flat on the surface, especially that fine of a screen, will get covered with debris extremely quickly, something that projects upward out of the water will be a lot less, if any, maintenance. as the water level rises it will have a new area to exit the pond from, whereas the flat surface one, once it covers over with debri, rising water won't do anything but seal it off tighter.
The bar guards could be painted a more subtle cover if you dont like the color, I think they are painted a bright color so as to be seen easier by farmers when they are tilling the fields that have drain tiles in place.
