I'll say: having played in a number of USGA qualifiers, I've never had the sense that anyone in the field was paying any attention to the intricacies (or intent) of the golf course at all. It's all about one shot at a time. Players are focused simply on hitting a good tee shot from the tee...they could care less about the general flow of the hole (or the course, for that matter), because they're there, as has been said, to do a job. Just as they block out a bad putt or a fellow competitor, they ignore the golf course as a whole.
As well, at least at the venues selected for these events, the modern game (bomb & gouge) generally functions irrespective of a course's features. There's simply no call for hitting a variety of shots.
As players get better, they get more consistent, and they require fewer options. A great deal of the choices presented by a thoughtful architect are unneeded as a result.
I'd much rather play with fellows who have historical interest and perspective, and who shoot a higher score. These are the folks who are really playing golf anyway.
WW