You don't need to reach all the legs, although that is best. Grabbing the body is also an option; the launch crawler/pad thing does this. That first example wou

You don't need to reach all the legs, although that is best. Grabbing the body is also an option; the launch crawler/pad thing does this. That first example would probably not be hydraulic. If it were though, and it leaked, that isn't any worse than the total-loss (intentional leak) hydraulic system that operates the grid fins on the Falcon 9. The rocket blast isn't anything special for heavy equipment that is some distance away. Note the containers sitting on the ship. They are fine. Grabbing can happen a minute after the engines stop, so telemetry isn't a problem.