I think it shows the amazing adaptability of the plants to withstand wide and varying conditions. They are built to withstand some extreme climate changes / conditions and survive them well. The adaptability that causes them to change colors doesn't kill the plants. I haven't seen that it weakens them in my experience, so far. Maybe it does, but it's a seasonal influence as in some sempervivums that darken or turn red in the sun and then go back to green in cooler seasons so they survive and recoup in cycles is my guess.

I don't with-hold water, though. If the extra hours of sun is on them they get water to survive that extra sunshine.

I am very sure I have and maybe still do, but not on purpose - either by being away from plants longer than expected, or just not-so-sure-it- needs water yet...
Many of my plants got quite dark colors without proper sun (while still etoliated) - I would think it's because too little water during dark and relatively cold temps while wintering indoors. E. Black prince (top right) doesn't look etoliated but it is - it's just angle photo has been taken.

Rina

What me worry?? So you're saying I'm taking my work stress out on my plants? Ha Ha!

On this poor little Aloe dorotheae?

Or this Aloe cameronii?

Maybe on this Aloe taurii! No, just tough love I think.

Aloebot- I hope you didn't spray paint those plants! The colors are spectacular : )

Rina - I know some aloes have a tendency to trail..i'm not sure about the ones in your pic though. Can I ask how you did the photo collage?

Neil
The lower right pic in previous post is aloe juvenna and it often trails; I have now few pots of it (all started from one pot in Feb. 2012 that had 2 separate plants, one of them with 2 pups).
You can see one pot - growing upright, in 2nd pot - one of the arms is trailing.
They are side-by-side, next to a south window, potted up into same mix. They pup enough and I have few extras growing from cuttings - you can see that in photo 5 where stem on left was cut off.

Rina

Aloebot
Those are fiery colors.

(How stressed are you, lol! - you need to change your job!)

Rina

Wait people spray paint succulent. poor succulents :( :( :(

Yeah they do Coolice. Aleobot's are not spray painted, I was just messin' with him.

I've seen succulents spray painted at Lowe's and Home Depot many times and of course they glue those phony straw flowers on the cactus. It pisses me off big time. They sell some Opuntia spray painted with almost neon colors and they call them "Gems of the Desert." Some people are fooled if they don't know any better and buy them thinkin' the colors and flowers are real. The first time I saw those was last year by Green Acres Mall off of Sunrise Highway.

This gets so mad and all for what the answer is money

U got it. it's all about the benjies