e.g. zp_albums, zp_comments

... would enable easy sharing of the db if you decide you need to later (and forgot to specify a prefix on install)

This already exists. Look in the zp-config.php file for the line that reads:
`// If you're sharing the database with other tables, use a prefix to be safe.

$conf['mysql_prefix'] = "";`
and change it to whatever prefix you want for your tables.