Looking at breeding ponds, they don't really have any filters(other than plants) or constant water flows, yet they thrive. I would say high current, at the very lease, is just not their natural preferred condition. Comm'ers have been using high flow to distract them from fighting so I would say they do bugged and affected with high current. I have a 4 - 5 time turn over rate on my FT.
Ive seen breeding ponds before and I dont remember seeing plants in the pond when it was empty. I dont know how exactly how the farm breeding pond work either, but I feel that for aquarium you need good water circulation, cuz standing still water will create too much bad chemical ( like ammonia and nitrate ) in certain areas in your aquarium from all the pee and poo that your fish produce, and that could cause your fish to become ill. For me, if it is a samll aro i wouldnt use too strong of a current just good enough to circulate the water. But for bigger aros i would use a stronger current.