Sean, my tongue-in-cheek post was really in response to folks bringing up bunkers like the one in the fairway of the 10th at Augusta. Setting aside the fact that it used to be a greenside bunker, that bunker may not be in play for the pros, but it might be for me, or other lesser players. Bunkers placed "for beauty," might be in play for a different golfer, was what I was trying to say.
To your point, sand bunkers offer a great combination of visual contrast with the grass, and they're harder to play out of than grass (for most players). It's not just the bunker look, but the way they play, the fear of going in them working on the mind of the golfer, and the "tradition" of their use that make them so ubiquitous. I also await that cutting edge architect you mention, and I look forward to what they'll use in place of the bunker.