Mike, I don't think we always make excuses, although, I do concur with you, if one knows someone personally, it can be easier to make allowances where one would normally criticize. I don't know Gil, but he has been at 1 or 2 of the GCA events at Tom's house most of us here attended. But, it seems like the "favored architects" have the spirit of the ODG courses that we typically enjoy, and work to create courses that make people think. Some people don't want to think, they just want to be rewarded.
Is Inniscrone very different from Applebrook? The aerials look a lot different, IGC looks more similar to FC in terms of terrain and layout than AGC.
Scrufty bunkers? Hmm...they're at Merion, and a few other places, now a lot of Philadelphia courses want bunkers like that now!
Is Glen Mills a lot more "in front of you" than Inniscrone? (I have not been there and am making no comparison)
Inniscrone is definately polarizing. Like Lederach, which is to say, in a good way.
Nobody has really come forward and presented alternative ideas for 5 and 10.
Mike, getting back to your comment on 7 in your last post, I think about this tee shot as the "Ross/Flynn" hybrid strategy I mentioned I think on page 1; that is, you can play to the left off the tee, away from the hidden bunker, and then contend with the bunkers on the 2nd shot. Alternatively, you can play right (and, multiple plays probably will give the player the best line to take here) and, assuming you hit the fairway, have a relatively unencumbered 2nd shot to layup or go for the green. Although, the green axis (from the aerial) seems to point in the direction of the bunkers.
I see what you're saying about "average guy" comments. Steve S shared similar ones from his experiences at Lederach, comments similar to what I received from people I met through GAP as well as other organizations. People are entitled to their opinions.
I concur with you, we can play the course that is there.