bentonite clay lined raised wicking beds?

I'm thinking about building earth bag raised beds with a bentonite liner inside for a wicking bed. I know they will very slowly leak, but I'm not worried about that. Will they hold up well enough? Or do you think they will just turn into a muddy mess? The earth bags would be on a gravel foundation and be lime plastered outside every year. I'm in a dry climate.

I'd just rather not put a sheet of plastic in the ground that will eventually get a hole in it.

Also, what about adding hardware cloth to the above to keep critters from tunneling in?

I've got no answers for you, but am very intrigued by the idea. I like the idea of wicking beds, but loathe the plastic.

I haven't tried this but I use bentonite in my work frequently.
Bentonite swells with hydration to a crazy degree.  I think it could easily swell into the sand/gravel of the wicking bed over time.  I would put sheet plastic over the bentonite. It doesn't have to be water tight, just continuous enough to prevent wholesale swelling of the bentonite.  Somewhat similar to a geosynthetic clay liner (bentonite perforated plastic quilt)

I use chicken wire under the barrier to keep out gophers as you suggest.  It has worked so far. Though I don't know if any have tried to burrow through.