Sean Arble -
Are you aware that, by posing multiple questions in your opening statement, you risk appearing "Mucci-esque?"
To answer most of them, I can hardly see the Euro Tour making changes relative to selecting locations and dates for the Ryder Cup. The money is very important to the Euro Tour and I think it makes for a very nice "thank you" gift to reward to sites that have hosted Euro Tour tournaments regularly over the years.
In addition, I think holding the RC on a course where the Euro Tour plays a tournament yearly generates a lot of advantageousl local knowledge for the home team. I am sure the Euro Tour officials feel winning the RC is a high priority for enhancing the image & prestige of their tour.
Finally, late September/early October hardly marks the end of the golf season in the British Isles. Didn't they play the World Match Play at Wentworth for years in mid-October. Don't they play the Dunhill Cup in Fife around then as well?
DT