Kyle,
Even with two players playing well (as we both were in the match I mentioned, which I won 1 up against a former club champion, 6 over par (that's 6 better than handicap)) there are always concession opportunities. There are always tap ins or two footers that can, and should, be conceded. Of course it is not match play that gets the situation but it IS matchplay that provides the ability to make a concession, rather than have the player putt out. In the case I gave. I COULD have chipped and puuted for my 5 and let him tap in for 3, that's what would have happened in medal play. In match play it would have been discourteous and caused us to take longer to play our match than it did.
Foursomes, by the way, should be faster than a two ball, as players can walk ahead of their partners to be ready to play the next shot. Some courses(Muirfield is an example) have cut throughs from the previous green to the next fairway, so that the players in each pair who are not driving the hole can walk to the fairway. This not only speeds things up but reduces the risk of lost balls, as they can act as forecaddies on the drives.