Dunlop,
One of the early lessons I learned was that if I wanted to compete at a higher level I had to hit the ball longer while keeping it straight.
Hitting it long and straight requires GREAT skill, and like SPEED in other sports, its hard to acquire if genetics and natural athletcism didn't give you a great head start.
On the stimp issue I would ask you this question.
Is is harder or easier to hole a twenty foot putt on a green that stimps at 15 with little or zero contour, or is it harder to hole a twenty footer at 9-10 stimp over a series of contours, ridges, etc., etc. ?? And, what are the consequences when the putt finishes far short or long compared to the green with the ridges, contours.
Increased stimps require flattened greens which leads to boredom and more importantly, less emphasis on the incoming shot. Try hitting an 80 yard wedge to the wrong location on the 1st green at NGLA, or the 3rd or 6th for that matter.
But, if greens are at 15 they must be flat, the putt straight, and then only one factor matters, distance control, whereas at greens like #'s 1,3, and 6, distance and direction are a vital combination, and require more skill.
But, that's just my opinion.