Didn't split up the db's, got rid of the versions instead; mine is a much smaller operation than what you and Jacob Boyle describe; just a few feature classes. I started with one version per user. That got old fast.
I do have a couple of databases now; an edit database and I replicate to a readonly SDE database for non-editing users.
Also, any and all published data comes from a File Geodatabase, that is a child from the edit SDE in a one-way, parent to child replication set up. Database replication is the best thing since hash browns imho....
That should just about do it....