John K.,
You are not delusional, and I think you are correct in this post. The comment someone made about the 18th on the Old Course was a good one, I think.
My wife is just starting to play and she can't carry the ball very far, and obviously can't put a lot of spin on it. For her, the most enjoyable golf holes are ones that are wide and completely open. The strategy for her comes when the green and its surrounds are closely cropped and provide for interesting bounces.
I enjoy those types of holes as well, but I enjoy equally a hole that asks for (though does not require) a heroic carry. For her, those types of holes are pure drudgery, since the heroic carry option is completely out of play and she is left with only a single option, which is to play around the diagonal hazard (a tough chore for a beginner).