I don't think it matters whether something was created for a purpose or not.
The greater the discrepancy between the speeds (and size, etc.) of various users, the more likely there is to be problems. Highways are built to allow fast travel with traffic only coming in at designated places and with lanes built to allow them to accelerate to highway speed before they enter traffic. Walkers, bikers, and horses are a distraction, travel at much slower speeds, and are prone to sudden unpredictable maneuvers. They don't mix well with highway traffic and cannot cope well with a high speed impact, i.e. they will be killed.
With roads we have the luxury and ability to build to accommodate different modes of travel and even to avoid mixing incompatible modes.
With water we don't have that luxury. Everyone uses the same resource. That means that different users have to assume responsibility to be aware and deal with different modes of water use. Why should the onus be solely on powerboat users? Powerboat users already know that close to the shore (150 ft.) they have to be going slow. There are likely to be waders, floaters, swimmers, non power boaters, and paraphernalia. These other users have a valid, heightened expectation of safety in this area. But as you venture out further from shore, especially in heavily used power boating lanes, these other classes of users would be prudent and wise to recognize an increased possibility of danger AND to take responsibility to do whatever they can to mitigate that danger. It is certainly the responsibility of a power boat to avoid them. But doing things to increase your visibility, bright colors, reflective strips?, flags, are not an unreasonable burden on the other users to minimize their own danger. THEY are the ones they are going to be worse off in a collision.
Pontificating about their rights to use the lake doesn't increase safety. Their rights to use the lake are not superior in essence to any one else's. The rules are not there to say one lake user is superior to another. They are there to attempt to improve safety for all. The rules are also not meant to be all that you should be aware of when using the water. Common sense about your personal situation can help keep you safe.
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