Rain barrels and rain chains

After the rains over the last 10 days, I'm convinced that rain chains simply won't work with typical rain barrel setups.  The rain chains are aesthetically pleasing, and they disperse the water in a way that doesn't cause erosion, but the water is broadcast too widely, even if your rain barrel is topped and surround with plants all around.

While it's easy to drain the water on top, it's difficult to screen that water, which is typically filled with small leaves and other things that will clog spigots, valves and our sprinkler and soaker hoses.

My rain barrels fed (poorly) by rain chains.