In case it isn't obvious, the enemies in the Dream Sequences are much harder than those in the regular world.
Many of these are used in later levels.
The use of the hookshot targets was due to a desire to keep close to the original layout in Link's Awakening.
I took more liberties with Dream Sequences naturally.
Some areas are just lazily copy-pasted.
I blame that Moosh fellow for teaching me the art.
I chose to have a small number of houses in the Dream Sequences.
None of them have enemies.
The Song of Storms was a choice made out of a lack of other ideas.
It has a few uses in the quest.
Swimming opens a lot of content.
You can't lock yourself out of it by using blue keys early.