If a 'monster' and 'tyrant' like Darken Rahl tells you you overdoing it maybe it's a sign to start worrying? Mmm, but maybe Darken's just saying that to mess with Richard's head...and yet, most of the time when Darken points out Richard or anyone's hypocrisy, he doesn't have to lie; Our Heroes aren't perfect, after all.

Good point about the Confessed woodcutters - they later take away Annabelle's powers, so presumably those people could have recovered just like Flynn and Richard.