When you run into the cases it is much better to write a plugin than to put imperative code into your build. Gradle builds are IMHO a huge step backwards for others trying to use someone else's build.
Really? You think someone will find it easier to go look at the source for my plugin rather than just a line of imperative code in my build script? I would agree it easily gets out of control, but I really don't think I would rather have to find and understand a whole plugin just to grok a one off piece of logic needed in the middle of a build script.
Generally, the imperative code isn't as flexible in different environments. For instance, if you look at the Gradle file for Gradle you'll find tons of stuff very specific to their actual computers they use to do the build. That is the opposite of what I want in a build file intended for third parties or even for medium teams.
