I can't understand why you would want to lower the water level that far as suggested in the article (below the return lines). That is aLOT of water. If you blow out the lines and plug them properly there is certainly no need to drain below the return lines. That water level will come up anyway during the off-season, and so you'll still need the lines plugged or really run the risk of having them fill up and freeze. I always heard about a few inches below the skimmer is fine. I think the more important thing is to regulate the water level after the pool is closed. I have a small pump that I put through the skimmer to re-lower the water level once it comes back up from rain and winter storms, etc. Of course, at some point everything freezes up to the extent where it is simply a matter of waiting till warmer weather. As far as the pool light goes, unless you are indeed lowering the water to a level below the lines, why would you want to take out the light? If the water would ever freeze to the depth of the light (assuming the initial closing level is only a few inches below the skimmer), that would be one heck of a winter and we'd probably all have alot more problems to be concerned with than what is going on in the pool!