Michael,
Don't "dismiss" Biarritz holes with the front section as putting surface. The pin should NEVER be there for serious play. NEVER. (It is fine for outings and other days where you simply want to change things up. Our super puts the pin up there on Tuesdays to give the green a rest and the ladies like the break.)
So if you accept that the pin should ALWAYS be on the back tier, a front section maintained as putting surface is merely creating the fastest, firmest possible fairway. It has HUGE added benefits for the play of the hole.
The biggest change is the first bounce. At least 50% of the players can't hit it far enough to fly the ball to the back. So a "green-height" firm landing area will hit and roll out, especially when the shot is low, such as you would expect with drivers and 3-woods. The shorter grass means faster roll, again benefitting those playing for the roll out. I have seen this firsthand as we lowered our run up to fairway height 5 years ago. Many shorter hitters could never reach the green, the (soft) fairway just gobbled up their balls and they played the hole hoping for a chip and putt par, which really was fairly simple. Now, many of these same players are reaching the back section and I have to tell you it is fun to listen to them hoot and holler as the ball is rolling. However, balls hit a tad too soft are rolling all the way back down the swale, leaving a REALLY tough two-putt, where as they use to stop on the upslope when swale was fairway height.
I agree that many long hitters simply attempt to fly it to the back section. Given today's equipment, there are two things that must occur to "keep the hole relevant" for the best players. First, you need a black tee at 245-265 to take 3 iron and rescue clubs out of their hands. (Bahto says 270 would be perfect
) Secondly, the green must be really firm. The first bounce must be low and hard, not biting. I understand that these conditions are difficult to maintain, but when they can be accomplished, it absolutely changes how long hitters must play the hole. Hackensack's is playing that way at the moment, and you'll just have to trust me that the "fly it to the pin" strategy has changed. (I hope weather conditions permit this to continue.)
I am not aware of too many biarritz-style greens on par 4 and 5's, but here is the conceptual problem: long hitters hit is so far that they will have mid to short irons on their approaches. (Par 5's make NO sense, after two shots the long hitter has some kind of wedge in his hands.) If you reduce the size of the green sections to defend against the long hitters, you unfairly penalize the rest of the players who have to run up their apprpoaches.
At least with par three holes you get to decide from where the long hitter must hit his approach, and presumably, that player is playing the appropriate tees.