The pros love Firestone too, so I don't tend to put much stock in what they say.
The architecture at Quail Hollow looks solid but not particularly inspiring. I like the look of the short four, number 14. However, the course looks like it would be brutal for anyone over a three handicap. There are several PGA Tour courses I would rather play instead of it.
JNC, don't be deceived by what you see in the tournament. While I would never claim that Quail is an easy course, it is nowhere near the brute you would think if your only frame of reference is what you see on TV. First of all, virtually no one plays the 7417 yard tournament tees. The "normal" back tees are only 6830 yards and the member tees are 6345 yards. Heck, that's shorter than my club here in town. Second, the greens don't stimp at 13 any time other than during tournament week. Comparing that week to typical conditions is apples and oranges. Finally, while the course would no doubt benefit from some tree removal, the hole corridors are generally plenty wide enough (the notable exception being #12). I view the trees as less of an issue than the narrow fairways, which tend to limit some of the potential strategic options. For me, the perception of Quail as an unrelenting beast not suitable for daily member play is, in my opinion, a fiction. Honestly, I'm not convinced that under normal conditions Quail is any tougher than Charlotte CC, which is generally considered (and rightfully so) a fantastic members course.
One thing I particularly like about Quail is that it has more half par holes than just about any course I can think of. Not one, but two drivable par 4s. All four of the par 5s are reachable with two good shots. And a bunch of long/tough par 3s and 4s. The end result is a course of extremes which breeds excitement whether in a weekend foursome or for the best players in the world.
Ed