Here are the photos!
Before puddle-testing. Is this amount of spilling normal?
The puddle test, using purified water. The water stays in place
just fine. Since there is nothing in it to break the surface tension,
it doesn't completely wet the ink-soaked spongue of the black pad.
After a cleaning cycle. The water has been sucked away, washing the
sponges, and fresh ink on them is visible. Seems normal to me.