Patrick,
Lots of folks here seem to dislike modern bunker maintenance practices and some have suggested, as you did, reduced frequencies of raking, grooming ..etc..But, I have never come across a player who walked up to a bunker, saw his ball in a foot print and said, "oh boy, what a challenge". Are there any clubs out there who are reducing their bunker maintenance? Does anyone here really want a terrible lie in a bunker when they missed the green by a yard? The pros may like hitting in bunkers instead of green side rough, but average Joe still seems pretty intimidated by the sand. I'd love to see a club return to the idea of bunkers as hazards, but I doubt any club has a majority of players who want to make their bunkers more difficult.