Oh man, that brings back memories. All my Dwarf Fortress games were horrific dystopias. Full-on police states optimized for the production and export of lead children's toys (they are enchanted by our more ethical works).

Then new unskilled arrivals would wait in a room with retractable spikes before they met anyone. It was someone's job to pull a lever all day. Then the clothes would be exported (they are enchanted by our more ethical works).

Everyone left was either in the army or a skilled worker confined to a 2x2 room containing a bed, table, chair, and statue of the mayor. The doors locked from the outside.

Newer versions have made this strategy less productive I think -- I haven't really kept up. At the time a single death could send your fortress into a fatal spiral of depression and it worked pretty well though.

You may have misread my post. I said losing the game. What you're describing is clearly winning the game :p