So after a week or so of using the range finder I can state the following:
1) It is nice to have on the range because most yardage markers on ranges, at least in my 'hood, are "off"
2) If you are playing on your own, using it will definitely slow you down. Unless, you are a total yardage nut who needs it on every shot to the exact distance, in which case you are probably delusional.
3) If you are in the rough, or BFE, it is helpful and faster to use than a sprinkler head 50 yards away
4) If a course is nose to butt, then it does not matter for speed of play whether people use them or not. If the course is wide open and you are in a foursome with every player using one, it will slow you down or speed you up depending on the playing style of each player.
ie) If someone shoots yardage and hits the ball, they will play a lot faster than someone who paces of yardage, takes eight practice swings and focuses the chi for 30 seconds
5) In tournaments, they are very helpful in shotting yardage to hazards, pin, etc. In this environment, they will certainly speed up play.
6) I cannot get myself to use it on every shot even if I try. If I can see the 150, get a feel for where the flag is on the green, that is generally enough. If I am waiting on a couple of other people to hit - then I might laser the flag just to know for sure.
After several rounds of playing with people who do not have these devices, it is interesting to find that none of them would consider purchasing one. They all thought it was a waste of money. Handicaps of this small sample groups ranged from 2 to 18, and a couple of the guys play the occassional tournament. I do know one guy, however, who swears by his - he is a very quick player and the laser does not slow him down.
In terms of confidence over a shot, I think that these devices can be quite helpful. 90% of the game is in the mind, and distance is a key variable that goes into any shot, so if you can commit to hitting your eight iron 152, instead of guessing that you need to hit it somewhere around 145 to 150, your scoring may improve.
What I fear is that people will begin to live their golfing lives through the peep hole of a range finder instead of through the panoramic view we get from our natural vision. Golf, for 99% of the population, is not hit it exactly X on a drive and exactly Y on the approach. The deceptive visual cues that architects create are invisible through the lens of a range finder and must decrease the appreciation a golfer can have for any great course.
The one playing format where a range finder will certanly be less helpful is on a links course where you have to feel your way around. If the pin is 174 and the wind is blowing 30 mph, who cares. You have to feel that shot, how you will flight the ball, and what club to hit. General distance info may be helpful, but it can also confuse. Often on a links it is better to trust your instinct and let your sub-conscious execute the shot.
Since most courses in NA are target golf - it is only a matter of time before every junior on the course has one. Unfortunately.