Well Garland, I think this is one of those "different strokes for different folks" type of deals. I simply cannot relate to laying up short on a 130 yard hole, especially one lacking a water hazard. In fact, 130 yards is a great distance to lay UP to, not lay up from.
As far as your Billy Casper example from 1959, it made my point exactly. I said a SMALL percentage would ever consider laying up short. How many golf tournaments have been won since then using that same strategy? None? One? I have no idea, but if there has been it represents an extremely small percentage.
In regards to your quote of, "I am sorry, but I believe St. Andrews is celebrated for allowing all players to come play their game not matter how weak it may be" is exactly my point. St. Andrews is playable by a broader spectrum of golfers and that is fantastic. In fact, you could probably make the arguement that the more playable a course is the more popular (especially in terms of total number of rounds played) a course is. That doesn't mean a course like Thanksgiving Point shouldn't be built since it is so difficult for the average golfer and features different challenges and requires a different batch of shots.
My Augusta National 12th hole example wasn't intended to be related directly to a hole at Thanksgiving Point but was simply an example where I would find it hard to believe someone would consider laying up even with Rae's Creek where it is. I can't imagine that hole being nearly as famous if that hazard went around the back of the green rather than fronting it. Obviously you would choose to layup on that hole based on your admission of laying up on your home course 130 yard par 3 with no hazard. That's fine, I'm just indicating in the experiences I've had golfing with other people that it would be a small percentage that would layup on a 155 yard hole like #12 at Augusta.
I don't think every golf course has to be everything to every type of player. That is why it is so critical for an architect to know who they are designing a course for. Is it for a PGA event? Is it for Junior Golf or a retirement community? Is it for a low handicap membership? That along with general terrain dictates a ton of what an architect elects to do when determining forced carries, green contours, green speeds, fairway widths, hazards, etc.
At Thanksgiving Point Johnny Miller utilized an excellent natural feature, the Jordan River, to add some strength to the shots required on various holes there while targeting a different golf demographic than the demographic a fantastic traditional course like the San Francisco Golf Club attracts. Both great, both very different.