Matt,
I'd agree with you in most places, but respectfully disagree with your thoughts about WF's rough. I think, given the advances of the game and the distances obtained, the rough and it's overhanging trees create a warranted penalty for not hitting the fairway. A well struck tee shot that err's ever so slightly at WF will run through a fairway or just off, but still leave a probable chance of recovery. A wildly errant tee ball will not. The rough, when not stiff bermuda or high fescue offers plenty of risk/reward....Tillinghast's goal. The rough gives crappy and decent lies, never perfect ones and that's they way it should be.
Love's '97 PGA victory was indeed stellar and so very worthy, but I was there and while the greens were as perfect as they can get, the roughs help defend the course against further assault on par.
Today's flatstickers are so capable of putting fast breaking surfaces...ala ANGC, that green difficulty no longer serves as
the primary defense in a WF major. Getting the ball 50-100yds closer to the greens allows great short-gamers to flop or air their way onto many spots that previously denied those angles. A prime example is my puting the ball far down the left side, in the left side fairway, on 11 and making a 9 iron to two feet for a birdie to a left front pin (tucked behind the bunker). *That would not have happened had the rough been pinched in and high!
I'll agree with you that a longer tee at 12 isn't necessary. It seems to been have done purely to add length and will definitely alter the previously strategic choice 2nd shot. I'll also agree with your course vs. wind assessment, however, it sure is fun when the wind comes up and swirls, apparent or not, at treetop level.
I do second the notion that WF be left alone...it is a classic for all time.
slapper
* Loved that birdie..helped to a first time ever 5 over from the tips!