Tom, I couldn't agree more. In general, I don't care for a large bunker far afield in the rough and totally surrounded by rough. Of course to every situation there are some exceptions. But in general, I tend to look at the bunker surrounded by rough as a double jeopardy hazard.
I do find what I've seen on TV of classic Australian course design and maintenance meld interesting, where there are bunkers partially within the fairways encroaching the lines of play and charm and trimmed as fairway right up to the bunker, and with their backsides maintained as rough well into the rough areas. But, bottle holes, cross diagonal bunkers, random pots or pits, and mid-fairway clusters make the game much more enjoyable in my view.
I believe water when naturally present in streams/creeks or lakes should be used sparingly as laterals, diagonal fairway bisectors, and very rarely as forced carries. The same holds true for required irrigation ponds, I think.
But what I really dislike is the contrived or considered use of rocks, artificial rocks, or stone or brick walls within the fairway and worse within the surrounds of greensites. Only when incorporating such rock-stone features that are native to the land, and can't be efficiently dealt with any other way, do I accept them as barely tolerable when they are within fairway lines.