[bbartlog]

The only reason I would check this flop (in limit) is to try and angle for a check-raise. Probably I'd sooner bet, just to guarantee more money in the pot; keep in mind too that letting everyone see another card for free means that every crappy backdoor flush draw now has a chance to hose you. Some of those backdoor flush draws will probably fold to a bet on the flop.
With five people still in the hand on the turn, I think capping is fine. I wouldn't cap this with fewer than four opponents though; odds of getting freerolled by one of many hands like 2378, 78TJ, 7899 or whatever would be too high.
Anyway, just in general, it sounds like you are questioning your decision to bet hard here, maybe because you got burned. But even a fragile hand like this one should have more than 20% pot equity; I think betting is correct (and I'm pretty sure it's correct with five people paying even if you know that one of them has 78xx with a freeroll to a better high).