Curtis,
If it is the case that normally we shouldn't need to determine the Z limit, perhaps it would help to have this added to the help page linked below?
the way to get that added is to suggest it by visiting the help page by selecting the feedback link. This feedback goes directly to the Esri help article author -- I've seen them respond to many of my suggestions...
I never got a direct answer to my question in the post you replied to, but maybe you're having issues I posted in the link I provided