As will surprise no one here, I open the door repeatedly during cycles, always eyeing the fills to see the minimal amount required to get the top "Propeller"(laughs), whirling, among other interests. Sometimes, as Bob and Mark noted, the machine does NOT stop upon opening the door, but that is not normal. This is an occasional malfunction owing to the DW's age, perhaps, because as Al pointed out, the release of the latch stops the show.
Maybe Al and John have a better understanding of what is causing the random door-latch error. Thanks so much John for the explanation of the full stop. How cool of Whirlpool to do that. Had no clue; makes perfect sense.
Fun to learn of Tom and Mark's conservation of water. Not always but sometimes, after employing the protocol I mentioned using three drained Liquors, the large sink is full, and I simply throw dishes into the sink through out the day and evening. When morning comes, the sink-full of dishes is pre-washed, and the subsequent water discharges are pretty damn clean.
When I wrote about the fragrant hot steam warming the kitchen, this happens during the DRY cycle and during my investigative door openings ;'D, but I haven't noticed steam during the wash and rinses Tom so you may be right. You've given me more to study, but I haven't noticed any water pooling on the floor.
As Mark likes to say, it all, FUN FUN FUN, and it never goes away!