I'm not sure what "brand" Mid Pines really has. It seems to me that it lags a long way behind Pinehurst Resort, Tobacco Road, Pine Needles, and Dormie Club on the list of "courses to play" in the area.
I never really considered playing Mid Pines on my trip to Pinehurst, but with the renovation, I'm certainly more interested in seeing it the next time around. Of course, if every option in Pinehurst moves to the "sandy scrub with no rough" presentation it'll get a little tired, but it's still fairly unique for now. Mid Pines was never going to have the brand recognition that a course like No. 2 has, but I can certainly see it getting some play as a poor man's version (literally).
As far as it being more difficult for high handicappers, I don't know. A lot of high handicappers I know are better from a little rough than from fairway. I'm sure they'll struggle from both wiregrass and hardpan, but I found the sandy scrub areas more visually intimidating than actually difficult to hit from.