IMHO : Run Out areas make the game much more interesting.
Without the run out areas ( Houston ) you just take out the wedge and hack it out .... With run out areas , I have to think all the way back to the approach shot ( Don't miss right , it will collect in a difficult position ) ... When your in the run out area , your options run from putter , to 5 wood , to mid iron , to pitch , to flop .... Now that's Golf ... Options and making the player Think.
Interesting side note from my club ( Kingwood CC ) ... We have 3 courses that generally have rough around the greens and 1 with combo of deep bunkers , steep slopes , run out areas , deep native grasses ... It seems like the average players stay away on the 3 traditional courses and more serious players are on the one course ( Forest )
I'm still trying to figure it out , I really don't like the look of the Forest ... But I LOVE the way it plays.