Slag,
As a few hint, its sort of interesting to see how a fad or trend plays out. I presume this F/T started its current iteration at Sand Hills in 1999 and has been working for a decade now. Maybe 50-100 new courses have some version of it and many others have been "restored" to it even if perhaps the original bunkers didn't have that look?
Why do some work, and others not?
IMHO, some are too regular even among the irregular edges and still look man made. (Regular irregularity....hmm are we still talking bunkers or digestive problems here?)
Some are done, but the gca is not fully committed to it - he/she gets half way there but is afraid to really do it.
Others are on a site where it doesn't really match.
We have seen enough of them and say "Oh not this again." So, they never have a chance in our perception, no matter how well done.
I think if we look back at the history of fads and trends, we will see a similar pattern and also, a natural desire for the next big thing.
I am also intrigued by the evolution of MacKenzie bunkers, since that look really persisted as the model for 70 years or so. (Frilly edges have a way to go as the dominant trend setting bunker!) I just looked through the Mac book and didn't really see enough photo evidence of his early bunkers to know. But like later gca's would it be true that once he had some acclaim with his style, that moved forward into all of his work, almost regardless of setting? Was he expected to do that kind of bunkering, much like Pete Dye clients wanted long strip bunkers and pot bunkers?
Also regarding frill edges, most golfers agree with Matt. Is it architecturally sound to introduce a random multistroke penalty for someone missing the green by six feet, while making a fairly standard play for those who miss by thirty? OR as noted, have such a different result for two six foot misses separated by only a few feet along the edge? I understand you don't ever want to eliminate the rub of the green in golf, but should a bunker style more or less force it into the issue more than nature itself might?
Lastly, many of the frill edge bunkers built back in the day were really a result of the ability to maintain them, which was nil. On a suburban golf course with less wind, and given current maintenance equipment, is a cleaner edge bunker any more or result of the evolution of the bunker given its "natural conditions" in that suburban setting?
Man, I am so deep!